Hybrid Air-Conditioning System with Transparent Thermal Insulation and Phase-Change Material: Experimental Heat Flux Measurements and CFD Analysis.
Saved in:
| Title: | Hybrid Air-Conditioning System with Transparent Thermal Insulation and Phase-Change Material: Experimental Heat Flux Measurements and CFD Analysis. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Torres Rodríguez, Agustín1 (AUTHOR), Gálvez, David Morillón1 (AUTHOR) damg@pumas.iingen.unam.mx, Silva Casarín, Rodolfo1 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Energies (19961073). May2026, Vol. 19 Issue 10, p2407. 46p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Thermal insulation, *Phase change materials, *Indoor air quality, *Temperature control, *Heat flux measurement, *Energy consumption, *Computational fluid dynamics |
| Abstract: | Buildings account for a substantial proportion of global energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions, largely due to the widespread use of conventional heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. Hybrid systems that integrate passive and active technologies have emerged as a promising strategy for reducing energy demand while maintaining adequate indoor environmental conditions. This study evaluates the thermal and airflow performance of a hybrid air-conditioning system (HACS) that combines transparent thermal insulation (TTI) filled with R-410A refrigerant and a pig-fat-based organic phase-change material (PCM). Experimental measurements of heat flux, temperature, airflow velocity, and CO2 concentration were conducted in a controlled prototype system. In parallel, computational simulations were performed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and multizone airflow modeling. The hybrid system incorporates a TTI container acting as a solar absorber and a galvanized-steel PCM container filled with 10 kg of pig fat used as latent heat storage. Heat-flux measurements were obtained using an HFS-5 sensor connected to a data acquisition system, while airflow velocity and temperature were monitored with analog data loggers. Indoor CO2 concentrations were recorded using a dedicated CO2 meter and simulated using CONTAMW software version 3.4.0.8. The experimental results show that the TTI and PCM containers reached average heat-flux values of 77.04 W/m2 and 55.31 W/m2, respectively. Airflow within the system is induced by buoyancy forces arising from temperature gradients generated by heat transfer processes at the surfaces of the TTI and PCM, resulting in a mixed air stream with an average temperature of 37.54 °C during winter operation. Recorded CO2 concentrations remained between 290 and 413 ppm, indicating high indoor air quality levels. The overall experimental campaign spanned 6 years and 3 months. CFD simulations confirmed the airflow patterns and heat-transfer behavior observed experimentally. The findings demonstrate that hybrid air-conditioning systems combining refrigerant-filled transparent insulation with bio-based phase-change materials can effectively enhance passive thermal performance while maintaining acceptable indoor air quality. The integration of photovoltaic-powered ventilation systems could further the operational autonomy and overall energy efficiency of such hybrid systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Database: | Energy & Power Source |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 1 |
|---|---|
| Header | DbId: enr DbLabel: Energy & Power Source An: 194141522 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
| IllustrationInfo | |
| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Hybrid Air-Conditioning System with Transparent Thermal Insulation and Phase-Change Material: Experimental Heat Flux Measurements and CFD Analysis. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Torres+Rodríguez%2C+Agustín%22">Torres Rodríguez, Agustín</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gálvez%2C+David+Morillón%22">Gálvez, David Morillón</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> damg@pumas.iingen.unam.mx</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Silva+Casarín%2C+Rodolfo%22">Silva Casarín, Rodolfo</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Energies+%2819961073%29%22">Energies (19961073)</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 19 Issue 10, p2407. 46p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thermal+insulation%22">Thermal insulation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Phase+change+materials%22">Phase change materials</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Indoor+air+quality%22">Indoor air quality</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Temperature+control%22">Temperature control</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Heat+flux+measurement%22">Heat flux measurement</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Energy+consumption%22">Energy consumption</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computational+fluid+dynamics%22">Computational fluid dynamics</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Buildings account for a substantial proportion of global energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions, largely due to the widespread use of conventional heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. Hybrid systems that integrate passive and active technologies have emerged as a promising strategy for reducing energy demand while maintaining adequate indoor environmental conditions. This study evaluates the thermal and airflow performance of a hybrid air-conditioning system (HACS) that combines transparent thermal insulation (TTI) filled with R-410A refrigerant and a pig-fat-based organic phase-change material (PCM). Experimental measurements of heat flux, temperature, airflow velocity, and CO2 concentration were conducted in a controlled prototype system. In parallel, computational simulations were performed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and multizone airflow modeling. The hybrid system incorporates a TTI container acting as a solar absorber and a galvanized-steel PCM container filled with 10 kg of pig fat used as latent heat storage. Heat-flux measurements were obtained using an HFS-5 sensor connected to a data acquisition system, while airflow velocity and temperature were monitored with analog data loggers. Indoor CO2 concentrations were recorded using a dedicated CO2 meter and simulated using CONTAMW software version 3.4.0.8. The experimental results show that the TTI and PCM containers reached average heat-flux values of 77.04 W/m2 and 55.31 W/m2, respectively. Airflow within the system is induced by buoyancy forces arising from temperature gradients generated by heat transfer processes at the surfaces of the TTI and PCM, resulting in a mixed air stream with an average temperature of 37.54 °C during winter operation. Recorded CO2 concentrations remained between 290 and 413 ppm, indicating high indoor air quality levels. The overall experimental campaign spanned 6 years and 3 months. CFD simulations confirmed the airflow patterns and heat-transfer behavior observed experimentally. The findings demonstrate that hybrid air-conditioning systems combining refrigerant-filled transparent insulation with bio-based phase-change materials can effectively enhance passive thermal performance while maintaining acceptable indoor air quality. The integration of photovoltaic-powered ventilation systems could further the operational autonomy and overall energy efficiency of such hybrid systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=enr&AN=194141522 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.3390/en19102407 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 46 StartPage: 2407 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Thermal insulation Type: general – SubjectFull: Phase change materials Type: general – SubjectFull: Indoor air quality Type: general – SubjectFull: Temperature control Type: general – SubjectFull: Heat flux measurement Type: general – SubjectFull: Energy consumption Type: general – SubjectFull: Computational fluid dynamics Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Hybrid Air-Conditioning System with Transparent Thermal Insulation and Phase-Change Material: Experimental Heat Flux Measurements and CFD Analysis. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Torres Rodríguez, Agustín – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Gálvez, David Morillón – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Silva Casarín, Rodolfo IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 15 M: 05 Text: May2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 19961073 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 19 – Type: issue Value: 10 Titles: – TitleFull: Energies (19961073) Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
