Four E analysis and multi-objective optimization of an ice storage system incorporating PCM as the partial cold storage for air-conditioning applications

• An ITES system incorporating PCM cold storage was modeled for A/C applications.
• The system was analyzed from energy, exergy, economic, and environmental aspects.
• Exergy efficiency and total cost rate were considered as the conflicting objectives.
• Multi-objective optimization was applied to obtain a set of optimal solutions.
• The performance of modeled system was compared with a conventional cooling one.

In the present work, an ice thermal energy storage (ITES) system incorporating a phase change material (PCM) as the partial cold storage was modeled for air-conditioning (A/C) applications. The system was analyzed from energy, exergy, economic, and environmental aspects (4E analysis) for charging and discharging processes. Utilizing genetic algorithm optimization technique, multi-objective optimization of the system was performed and the optimal values of system design parameters were obtained. The exergy efficiency and total cost rate were considered as objective functions. The performance of the hybrid ITES system (with PCM) was compared with a simple ITES (without PCM) system and also was compared with a conventional air-conditioning system. The results indicated that the electricity consumption of hybrid system was 6.7% and 17.1% lower than that of the simple ITES and the conventional systems respectively. Furthermore, the amount of CO2 emission produced in hybrid system decreased by 7.2% and 17.5% relative to simple ITES and conventional systems respectively. Finally, the extra capital cost associated with using PCM with ITES (hybrid) system was paid back with savings in electricity in 3.97 years, while the payback period for simple ITES system (without PCM) was found to be 3.39 years.