Latent heat storage application for climatization of telecommunication base stations

Thermal energy storage (TES) applications can be made more effective and efficient with appropriate methods and the energy savings that can be achieved can be increased. Today, the number of telecommunication base stations in Turkey is approximately 200,000 as of 01.01.2020, according to the BTK report, and the energy savings to be achieved in the information and communication technology systems sector are also important in terms of energy efficiency and efforts to combat climate change. Within the scope of this thesis study, it is aimed to develop materials and methods for a new hybrid latent heat storage technique containing phase change material (PCM) to provide energy efficiency, energy saving and energy security in the air conditioning of telecommunication base stations. In addition, with the hybrid latent heat storage technique to be developed, the goals are to increase the number of daily PCM melting-freezing cycles and to greatly reduce the dependence of the melting-freezing cycle on the outside air temperature. In the first stage, PCM candidates suitable for the station operating conditions were determined and laboratory tests were carried out. Then, design and manufacturing studies of the hybrid latent heat storage system (HEFIS) consisting of air duct, evaporative cooler, fan and PCM heat storage units were carried out. In the second stage, a telecommunication base station cabinet with standard features was manufactured and HEFIS was properly mounted inside the cabin. In the third stage, the cabin was moved to the open area test site in Ankara in August 2022 to be tested under real climatic conditions. Field tests were carried out for two situations by deactivating and commissioning the hybrid TED system, and all data were recorded by measuring temperature and electrical energy consumption at each stage. In the final stage, the economic and environmental benefits to be obtained by using the system we developed in telecommunication base stations were determined. The results showed that by applying the system we developed in telecommunication base stations, the cooling load can be reduced by 31.52% in summer months. In addition, in the light of the studies and data obtained, method and material development studies have been carried out to completely disable air conditioners used for cooling purposes in telecommunication base stations.