Energy performance of a hybrid space-cooling system in an office building using SSPCM thermal storage and night ventilation

Thermal performance of a hybrid space-cooling system with night ventilation and thermal storage using shape-stabilized phase change material (SSPCM) is investigated numerically. A south-facing room of an office building in Beijing is analyzed, which includes SSPCM plates as the inner linings of walls and the ceiling. Natural cool energy is charged to SSPCM plates by night ventilation with air change per hour (ACH) of 40 h−1 and is discharged to room environment during daytime. Additional cool-supply is provided by an active system during office hours (8:00-18:00) necessary to keep the maximum indoor air temperature below 28 °C. Unsteady simulation is carried out using a verified enthalpy model, with a time period covering the whole summer season. The results indicate that the thermal-storage effect of SSPCM plates combined with night ventilation could improve the indoor thermal-comfort level and save 76% of daytime cooling energy consumption (compared with the case without SSPCM and night ventilation) in summer in Beijing. The electrical COPs of night ventilation (the reduced cooling energy divided by fan power) are 7.5 and 6.5 for cases with and without SSPCM, respectively.