Geocooling with integrated PCM thermal energy storage in a commercial building

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) Vol. 144; pp. 865 - 876
• Main Authors: McKenna, P., Turner, W.J.N., Finn, D.P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2018; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Buildings; Carbon; Case studies; Climate; Climate change; Commercial buildings; Computer simulation; Emission analysis; Energy conservation; Energy storage; Geocooling; Heat exchangers; Heat pumps; HVAC; Phase change material (PCM); Phase change materials; Renewable energy; Simulation; Storage tank; Thermal energy; Thermal energy storage (TES); Thermal storage; Phase change material (PCM); HVAC; Geocooling; Thermal energy storage (TES); Renewable energy; Storage tank
• ISSN: 0360-5442; 1873-6785
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2017.12.029

Geocooling and thermal energy storage (TES) are two strategies that could help alleviate the energy and carbon emission burden from cooling commercial buildings. This simulation study analyses the potential for geocooling, both with and without TES, in a Mediterranean climate. Spherically-encapsulated phase change material (PCM) was used as the thermal storage medium in the TES system. A PCM TES tank model was developed and validated within the TRNSYS environment. Using a small, lightweight commercial building as a case study, it was found that electricity savings of between 24 and 45% are possible from combining geocooling with TES, when compared to a system based on a reference ground-source heat pump (GSHP). •Geocooling with integrated PCM thermal energy storage (TES) is assessed.•Geocooling with PCM TES is viable in warm climates for light commercial buildings.•Up to 45% electricity savings over GSHP systems are possible.