Phase Change Material (PCM) Eutectic Solutions Used For Passive Cooling

Thermal Energy Storage (TES) may be considered asvery attractive lower cost to install and run.
a useful tool to reduce the cooling load requirementThese passive cooling units can be supplemented
by means of spreading day time loads over 24 hourusing a very small refrigeration compressor or a
period utilising the naturally occurring ambientchilled water circuit for lower temperatures but
temperature difference.products like chocolate, bakery products and flowers
The night-time cooler ambient can be used to chargecan be easily maintained under control by simply
the latent heat capacity of various Positivecharging these beams / containers over-night and
Temperature Eutectic also called Phase Changeutilising the stored energy during day-time transport.
Material (PCM) solutions between +4°C ( 39°F)Furthermore, this concept enables the owners utilise
and +117 °C (243°F) without using anytheir standard Lorries to be used as refrigerated
refrigeration machinery by simply allowing thetrucks during harvest / peak season at a fraction of
surrounding air to freeze these solutions. Later thethe cost for a conventional refrigerated truck.
stored energy by the Positive Eutectic, PCM ThermalHVAC / Air Conditioning PCM passive cooling concept
Energy Storage can be released back to theoffers mechanical refrigeration free passive-cooling by
occupied space during day-time to handle the heatsimply storing the night cool energy and releasing the
gains.stored cold latent heat capacity during day-time to
This technique is generally called Passive Cooling andkeep the space temperatures under control. Low
it may enable the charging process to take place byambient temperatures coupled with free cooling offer
means of free cooling, i.e. without running the chillersa significant reduction of energy consumption relating
and as a result becomes a very economical andto the cooling operation, which is in the region of
environmentally friendly system. Furthermore, PCM16-46 % depending on the type of passive cooling
energy storage opens new opportunities to exploreunit and location.
heat balance for the existing and new systems,Based on the applied projects, ambient profiles in
which could offer significant overall system efficiencymany parts of the world and associated feasibility
improvements.studies indicates that PCM assisted Passive Cooling
Alternatively, the sun energy during day-time isconcept offers economical and very environmentally
stored and later utilised during colder night-time tofriendly cooling options. In any country whereby the
heat the space for a free heating as well as storingnight ambient does not allow being sufficiently low
heat in the hot water circuits.enough to charge PCM Thermal Energy Storage
Privatisation has created a new kind of energy(TES) cells over-night, a supplementary dry cooler
market whereby the period of energy usage and theand / or small chiller can be added to top up the
type of energy used is becoming the main criteria fordifference between the ambient and PCM
price structuring rather than overall energytemperature for an economical solution.
consumption. Hence, cooling systems must beModern society’s reliance on refrigeration and air
designed to provide sufficient flexibility for loadconditioning indicates that refrigeration and the
shifting and a PCM Thermal Energy Storage techniqueassociated environmental issues will be with us for a
can be considered as a useful tool to achieve thisconsiderable time and therefore one has to utilise
aim.existing and available alternative technologies with
Building services must be designed to provideminimum usage of energy.
sufficient flexibility for load shifting and energy usageA Positive Temperature Eutectic “ PETES “
control in order to achieve the most economicalThermal Energy Storage not only provides the end
operation. A PCM Thermal Energy Storage techniqueuser with an Environmentally Friendly design but also
whereby "Storing High or Low Temperature energythe following additional benefits can be obtained:
for later use in order to bridge the time gap between• Reduced and No Refrigeration Equipment
energy availability and energy use" can be considered• Capital Cost Saving
as a useful tool to achieve this aim.• Reduced Maintenance.
Passive Cooling PCM Thermal Energy Storage (TES)• Energy Cost Saving
benefits can also be applied for electronic chamber,• Reduced CO2 Emission
shelter, telecom shelters, remote pump and electric• Environmentally Friendly Installation
control cabinet cooling for remote location whereby• Improved System Operation / Reliability
the lack of electricity eliminated the mechanical air• Flexibility for the Future Capacities Changes
conditioning or alternatively mechanical cooling freeThe temperature ranges offered by the proposed
applications around the World.Phase Change Materials solutions utilise free ambient
These Passive Shelter Cooling systems can evencooling, conventional chilled water temperature ranges
operate in hot countries like the Middle East due tofor both the charging and discharging sides of the
higher space temperature (45ºC / 113°F)system. Hence, they can be applied to any new or
requirements in comparison with Office Cooling. Aretrofit application with minimal technical and
PCM solution of 32ºC (89.6°F) is sufficient toeconomical impacts.
maintain the room temperature below 45°CFinally, the possibility of Free Cooling Cycle TES
(113°F) by simply using the temperature swingsystem offer new horizons for designers to control
between day and night time.the energy balance to match the load and electricity
The same concept has also been successfully applieddemand / consumption of the system as a whole.
for cold storage transport applications using EutecticZafer Ure, M.Sc., C.Eng., MCIBSE., MASHRAE., MInstR.,
beams. The majority of the perishable food must beis the Managing Director of Environmental Process
chilled during transport but the cost of refrigeratedSystems Ltd. and has 25 years experience in the
truck restricts the use of transport cooling inHVAC industry and has writen many papers for
particular in the third world where the biggest wasteindustry conferences and magazines. Details of PCM
occurs. A PCM, Eutectic filled high ceiling beams canProducts can be found ay  and Zafer can be
be simply charged using standard cold storage cancontacted on +44 1733 243400 or at z.ure@epsltd.co.
keep the product temperature under control at a