Performance of a hybrid heating system with thermal storage using shape-stabilized phase-change material plates

Performance of a hybrid heating-system, combined with thermal storage using shape-stabilized phase-change material (SSPCM) plates, is investigated numerically. A direct gain passive solar house in Beijing is considered, which includes SSPCM plates as the inner linings of walls and the ceiling. Unsteady simulation is performed using a verified enthalpy model, with a time period covering the winter heating-season. Additional heat supply is employed during load hours at late night and early morning (23:00-07:00 in Beijing) or during the whole day necessary to keep the minimum indoor air temperature above 18 °C. The results indicate the thermal storage effect of SSPCM plates, which improves the indoor thermal comfort level and saves about 47% of normal-and-peak-hour energy use and 12% of total energy consumption in winter in Beijing.