Jump to Content

< back

Current potential research project

Development of an evaporative cooling system with thermal storage

  1. Supervisors: Dr Frank Bruno and Dr Martin Belusko
  2. Area: Mechanical Engineering, Sustainable Energy
  3. Abstract: Evaporative air conditioners are used in large numbers in many parts of Australia and throughout the world as energy efficient cooling systems. The use of direct evaporative coolers is restricted, however, to regions of low humidity due to the limitation that the wet bulb temperature is the minimum temperature attainable, and the reduced comfort associated with the rise in relative humidity. Indirect evaporative coolers have been developed where humidified air is passed through one side of an air-air heat exchanger, and outside air is passed through the other side so that it is cooled sensibly only. These systems expand the climatic zones where evaporative cooling can be used to achieve thermal comfort. However, the energy efficiency of these indirect coolers is reduced due to the high pressure losses associated with the heat exchanger. This project involves the development of a conventional evaporative cooling system operating in conjunction with a thermal storage system. Phase change material (PCM) is the storage medium proposed to store the cooling. PCMs are materials which store heat by changing from a liquid to a solid at a desired temperature.
  4. Related references:
    • a. Bruno F., Using Phase Change Materials (PCMs) for Space Heating and Cooling in Buildings. EcoLibrium, Journal of Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air conditioning and Heating, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp 26-31, March 2005.

top^