Development and Experimental Characterization of an Innovative Tank-in-Tank Hybrid Sensible–Latent Thermal Energy Storage System

Abstract

This study focuses on the development and testing under lab-controlled conditions of a hybrid sensible–latent thermal energy storage (TES) system for domestic hot water (DHW) provision in residential buildings. The TES system’s design is based, for the first time in the literature, on a commercial tank-in-tank architecture integrating a macro-encapsulated commercial phase change material (PCM) inside the external tank to guarantee the safe provision of DHW and increase overall energy storage density at a reasonable cost. The PCM is a salt hydrate with a nominal melting temperature of 58 °C. The overall tank-in-tank TES volume is about 540 dm3. Almost one tenth of this volume is occupied by the PCM macro-capsules. The developed TES system was comparatively tested against the same configuration operated as a sensible TES. The obtained results showed the ability of the PCM to increase the thermal inertia inside the external tank, thus guaranteeing the quite stable provision of heat to the integral DHW tank during the stand-by periods. This effect was confirmed by the PCM’s ability to achieve an energy storage capacity up to 16% higher than the reference sensible TES system.