The effect of PCM with different thermos-physical parameters on indoor temperature of Xi’an Solar Greenhouse

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, the enthalpy method is used to simulate the influence of phase change materials (PCM) with different thermos-physical parameters on the indoor thermal temperature of solar greenhouses in Xi’an, China. The simulation results show that the temperature adjustment effect of PCM on solar greenhouses is significantly greater than common heat storage materials such as rammed soil, gravel and water. The lowest indoor temperature in the solar greenhouse increases first and then decreases with the increase of the phase transition temperature. The influence of PCM with different latent heat values on the average indoor temperature of the solar greenhouse increases first and then stabilizes. Increasing the thermal conductivity of PCM can reduce the temperature range of the solar greenhouse, but the increase in thermal conductivity has little effect on the indoor temperature when the thermal conductivity is greater than 0.4 W/(m⋅°C). For the Xi'an area, the best thermos-physical parameters of PCM used in solar greenhouses are: phase change temperature of 11 °C, latent heat value of 140kJ/kg, thermal conductivity greater than 0.4 W/(m⋅°C). This article provides a reference for the practical application of PCM in solar greenhouses.