This study proposes the thermoelectric module radiant cooling panel integrated with phase change material (PCM-TERCP) and analyzes its thermal behavior and performance characteristics during the active and cooling process of phase change materials in ...
This study proposes the thermoelectric module radiant cooling panel integrated with phase change material (PCM-TERCP) and analyzes its thermal behavior and performance characteristics during the active and cooling process of phase change materials in design conditions. In this experiment, the paraffin was used as phase change material. PCM-TERCP has two operation mode: one is the passive cooling mode and another is active cooling mode. Thermoelectric modules (TEMs) operate to freeze the PCM and cool the target zone during the active cooling mode, and the PCM stores the cooling thermal energy to maintain the constant surface temperature of the panel for radiant cooling during the passive cooling mode.
The melting temperature of paraffin, which is the target surface temperatures of PCM-TERCP, was designed to be 16°C, to prevent the condensation. As a result, the empirical model was developed to predict the active and passive cooling time and cooling capacity in each mode of the PCM-TERCP. Consequently, the PCM-TERCP can offer the cooling passively as 1-8 hours and 30-97 W/m2, and freeze during the in active cooling mode following the different conditions without the TEMs operating.