Numerical analysis of charging and discharging performance of an integrated collector storage solar water heater

This work aims to evaluate the energy and the exergy performance of an integrated phase change material (PCM) solar collector with latent heat storage in transient conditions. A theoretical model based on the first and the second laws of thermodynamics is developed to predict the thermal behaviour of the system. The effect of natural convection on heat during the melting process is taken into account using an effective thermal conductivity. Influence of PCM thicknesses on the melt fraction, on the energy stored and on the exergy destroyed are studied during charging and discharging processes. Results indicate that the complete melting time is shorter than the solidification time. The latent heat storage system increases the heating requirements at night and reduces the exergy efficiency.