Investigation of the effect of phase change material capsulated/uncapsulated T-resistances air solar heater on space heating performance

In this experimental study, the effect of macro-dimensional calcium chloride hexahydrate (CaCl2.6H2O) phase change material encapsulated/non-encapsulated T resistors on the performance of air solar collector and its performance in heating a certain space of a house were experimentally investigated. Experiments were carried out at four(4) different flow rates of the working fluid (air), between the values of Reynoldss number 4175, 8350, 12525 and 16700. At least three(3) days of experiments were carried out for each fluid flow rate. Experiments were carried out in winter climate conditions between 5th and 26th of December 2021. 32 T resistors are placed in a staggered manner in the collector, T resistors are placed in one of the collectors in such a way that FDM is encapsulated, and in the other, without FDM (only resistors) are placed in equal numbers. From the experimental results, dependent parameters such as collector useful energy, collector efficiency, space heating performance, exergy efficiency, thermal performance coefficient were determined. The design of the FDMs used in the collector as both resistance and resistance to flow, and heat-storing resistance can increase the useful heat energy obtained from the collector up to 4,5 times compared to the empty collector.