• Energy Research

De nouveaux systèmes de refroidissement renouvelables sont nécessaires dans le monde entier pour répondre à la demande croissante de refroidissement. Cette étude propose et démontre une nouvelle intégration du refroidissement par absorption solaire avec le stockage de chaleur latente afin de maximiser l'utilisation de l'énergie renouvelable pour le refroidissement dans des climats extrêmement chauds. Une analyse paramétrique a été réalisée dans TRNSYS pour identifier les paramètres critiques pour un dimensionnement optimal liés à la taille du champ solaire, au volume du réservoir, à l'isolation du réservoir, au point de consigne de chauffage auxiliaire et à l'angle d'inclinaison du collecteur. De plus, l'intégration a été comparée à un système de refroidissement par absorption solaire conventionnel utilisant un stockage de chaleur sensible (un réservoir d'eau chaude) et un système de refroidissement par compression de vapeur électrique. Les résultats montrent qu'une taille de champ solaire de 1,5 m2/kWc, un volume de réservoir de stockage de chaleur latente de 30 L/m2, une isolation adéquate inférieure à 0,8 W/m2.K et des températures de consigne appropriées pour la chaudière auxiliaire fournissent les performances optimales pour maximiser la fraction solaire. Par rapport au refroidissement par absorption solaire conventionnel, l'étude démontre comment le matériau à changement de phase (PCM) a augmenté la fraction solaire de 4,2 % (de 70,3 à 74,5 %) en raison d'une température stable plus élevée et de pertes de réservoir plus faibles (réduites de 44 %). En outre, malgré le coût d'investissement initial plus élevé du système de refroidissement solaire à base de PCM proposé par rapport au système de refroidissement par compression de vapeur, les résultats soulignent que le coût du cycle de vie est beaucoup plus faible dans les climats extrêmement chauds. Après 25 ans, le coût du cycle de vie a été réduit de 34 % par rapport à la compression de vapeur et de 9 % par rapport à un système de refroidissement solaire conventionnel. Par rapport à la technologie de réfrigérant à compression de vapeur, le système proposé peut économiser 31,6 % d'énergie primaire et 1 222 kg de CO2eq par an. Cette recherche fournit des informations précieuses sur la conception et l'intégration optimales du refroidissement renouvelable pour les applications résidentielles dans les régions extrêmement chaudes. Se requieren nuevos sistemas de refrigeración renovables en todo el mundo para hacer frente a la creciente demanda de refrigeración. Este estudio propone y demuestra una nueva integración de la refrigeración por absorción solar con el almacenamiento de calor latente para maximizar el uso de energía renovable para la refrigeración en climas extremadamente cálidos. Se realizó un análisis paramétrico en TRNSYS para identificar los parámetros críticos para el dimensionamiento óptimo relacionados con el tamaño del campo solar, el volumen del tanque, el aislamiento del tanque, el punto de ajuste de la calefacción auxiliar y el ángulo de inclinación del colector. Además, la integración se comparó con un sistema de enfriamiento por absorción impulsado por energía solar convencional que utiliza almacenamiento de calor sensible (un tanque de agua caliente) y un sistema de enfriamiento por compresión de vapor impulsado por electricidad. Los resultados muestran que un tamaño del campo solar de 1,5 m2/kWc, un volumen del tanque de almacenamiento de calor latente de 30 L/m2, un aislamiento adecuado por debajo de 0,8 W/m2.K y temperaturas de consigna adecuadas para la caldera auxiliar proporcionan el rendimiento óptimo para maximizar la fracción solar. En comparación con el enfriamiento por absorción solar convencional, el estudio demuestra cómo el material de cambio de fase (PCM) aumentó la fracción solar en un 4,2 % (de 70,3 a 74,5 %) debido a una mayor temperatura estable y menores pérdidas del tanque (reducidas en un 44 %). Además, a pesar del mayor coste de inversión inicial del sistema de refrigeración solar basado en PCM propuesto en comparación con el sistema de refrigeración por compresión de vapor, los hallazgos destacan que el coste del ciclo de vida es mucho menor en climas extremadamente cálidos. Después de 25 años, el coste del ciclo de vida se redujo en un 34 % en comparación con la compresión de vapor y en un 9 % en comparación con un sistema de refrigeración convencional impulsado por energía solar. En comparación con la tecnología de refrigerante por compresión de vapor, el sistema propuesto puede ahorrar el 31,6 % de la energía primaria y 1222 kgCO2eq al año. Esta investigación proporciona información valiosa sobre el diseño y la integración óptimos de la refrigeración renovable para aplicaciones residenciales en regiones extremadamente calurosas. Novel renewable cooling systems are required worldwide to address the growing demand for cooling. This study proposes and demonstrates a novel integration of solar-driven absorption cooling with latent heat storage to maximise the use of renewable energy for cooling in extremely hot climates. A parametric analysis was performed in TRNSYS to identify the critical parameters for optimal sizing related to the solar field size, tank volume, tank insulation, auxiliary heating set point, and collector tilt angle. Moreover, the integration was compared with a conventional solar-driven absorption cooling system using sensible heat storage (a hot water tank) and an electric-driven vapour compression cooling system. The results show that a solar field size of 1.5 m2/kWc, a latent heat storage tank volume of 30 L/m2, adequate insulation below 0.8 W/m2.K, and appropriate set-point temperatures for the auxiliary boiler provide the optimal performance to maximise the solar fraction. Compared with conventional solar-driven absorption cooling, the study demonstrates how the phase change material (PCM) increased the solar fraction by 4.2 % (from 70.3 to 74.5 %) due to higher stable temperature and lower tank losses (reduced by 44 %). In addition, despite the higher initial investment cost of the proposed PCM-based solar-driven cooling system compared to the vapour compression cooling system, the findings highlight that the life cycle cost is much lower in extremely hot climates. After 25 years, the life cycle cost was lowered by 34 % compared to vapour compression and by 9 % compared to a conventional solar-driven cooling system. Compared to vapour compression refrigerant technology, the proposed system can save 31.6 % of primary energy and 1222 kgCO2eq annually. This research provides valuable insights into the optimal design and integration of renewable cooling for residential applications in extremely hot regions. هناك حاجة إلى أنظمة تبريد متجددة جديدة في جميع أنحاء العالم لتلبية الطلب المتزايد على التبريد. تقترح هذه الدراسة وتوضح تكاملًا جديدًا للتبريد بالامتصاص المدفوع بالطاقة الشمسية مع التخزين الحراري الكامن لتعظيم استخدام الطاقة المتجددة للتبريد في المناخات الحارة للغاية. تم إجراء تحليل بارامتري في TRNSYS لتحديد المعلمات الحرجة للتحجيم الأمثل المتعلق بحجم الحقل الشمسي وحجم الخزان وعزل الخزان ونقطة ضبط التسخين الإضافية وزاوية إمالة المجمع. علاوة على ذلك، تمت مقارنة التكامل مع نظام تبريد الامتصاص التقليدي الذي يعمل بالطاقة الشمسية باستخدام تخزين الحرارة المعقول (خزان الماء الساخن) ونظام تبريد ضغط البخار الذي يعمل بالكهرباء. تظهر النتائج أن حجم الحقل الشمسي 1.5 متر مربع/كيلو واط مكعب، وحجم خزان تخزين الحرارة الكامن 30 لتر/متر مربع، والعزل الكافي أقل من 0.8 واط/متر مربع، ودرجات حرارة نقطة الضبط المناسبة للغلاية المساعدة توفر الأداء الأمثل لتحقيق أقصى قدر من الجزء الشمسي. مقارنة بالتبريد بالامتصاص التقليدي القائم على الطاقة الشمسية، توضح الدراسة كيف زادت مادة تغيير الطور (PCM) من الجزء الشمسي بنسبة 4.2 ٪ (من 70.3 إلى 74.5 ٪) بسبب ارتفاع درجة الحرارة المستقرة وانخفاض خسائر الخزان (انخفضت بنسبة 44 ٪). بالإضافة إلى ذلك، على الرغم من ارتفاع تكلفة الاستثمار الأولي لنظام التبريد المقترح القائم على الطاقة الشمسية PCM مقارنة بنظام تبريد ضغط البخار، فإن النتائج تسلط الضوء على أن تكلفة دورة الحياة أقل بكثير في المناخات الحارة للغاية. بعد 25 عامًا، انخفضت تكلفة دورة الحياة بنسبة 34 ٪ مقارنة بضغط البخار وبنسبة 9 ٪ مقارنة بنظام التبريد التقليدي الذي يعمل بالطاقة الشمسية. بالمقارنة مع تقنية تبريد ضغط البخار، يمكن للنظام المقترح توفير 31.6 ٪ من الطاقة الأولية و 1222 كجم من مكافئ ثاني أكسيد الكربون سنويًا. يوفر هذا البحث رؤى قيمة حول التصميم الأمثل ودمج التبريد المتجدد للتطبيقات السكنية في المناطق شديدة الحرارة.

Capture and sequestration of CO2 released by conventional fossil fuel combustion is an urgent need to mitigate global warming. In this work, main CO2 capture and sequestration (CCS) systems are reviewed, with the focus on their integration with renewables in order to achieve power plants with nearly zero CO2 emissions. Among these technologies under development, the Dry Carbonate Process shows several advantages. This manuscript analyses the integration of a CO2 sorption-desorption cycle based on Na2CO3/NaHCO3 into a coal fired power plant (CFPP) for CO2 capture with solar support for sorbent regeneration. The Dry Carbonate Process relies on the use of a dry regenerable sorbent such as sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) to remove CO2 from flue gases. Na2CO3 is converted to sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) through reaction with CO2 and water steam. Na2CO3 is regenerated when NaHCO3 is heated, which yields a gas stream mostly containing CO2 and H2O. Condensation of H2O produces a pure CO2 stream suitable for its subsequent use or compression and sequestration. In this paper, the application of the Dry Carbonate CO2 capture process in a coal-based power plant is studied with the goal of optimizing CO2 capture efficiency, heat and power requirements. Integration of this CO2 capture process requires an additional heat supply which would reduce the global power plant efficiency by around 9–10%. Dry Carbonate Process has the advantage compared with other CCS technologies that requires a relatively low temperature for sorbent regeneration (< 200 °C). It allows an effective integration of medium temperature solar thermal power to assist NaHCO3 decarbonation. This integration reduces the global system efficiency drop to the consumption associated with mechanical parasitic consumption, resulting in a fossil fuel energy penalty of 3–4% (including CO2 compression). The paper shows the viability of the concept through economic analyses under different scenarios. The results suggest the interest of advancing in this Solar-CCS integrated concept, which shows favourable outputs compared to other CCS technologies Ministerio de Economia y 8 Competitividad CTQ2014-52763-C2-2-R, MAT2013-41233-R

Buildings are responsible for one-third of the world's energy consumption, of which 60% is due to heating and cooling. To accomplish the low-carbon energy goal in the building sector, thermal energy storage offers a number of benefits by reducing energy consumption and promoting the use of renewable energy sources. This manuscript reviews recent advances in the development of thermal energy storage materials for building applications oriented towards zero energy buildings. Volumetric heat capacity of sensible, latent and thermochemical energy storage materials developed for low-to-moderate temperature applications are reviewed and assessed with a special focus on their technical characteristics and development stage. This encompasses most recent publications, international programmes and projects, and commercially available solutions. Physical, thermodynamic, kinetic and chemical properties are addressed, as well as costs. Advantages, drawbacks and challenges of the diverse alternatives are discussed. The analysis shows that solutions with the highest potential for competitive energy efficiency measures are based on latent and sensible energy storage systems, which present a volumetric thermal energy storage density up to 430 and 250 MJ/m3 respectively. Their applications in free-cooling ventilation systems, solar energy storage solutions for short and long-term storage periods, and demand-side management strategies towards the road to zero energy buildings are highlighted as promising, leading to a reduction of energy consumption of more than 30%. On the other hand, thermochemical energy storage does not yet show clear advantages for building applications, despite the potentially high energy density (up to 1510 MJ/m3) and heat availability for long-term storage periods. Currently, there is no available material for thermochemical energy storage that satisfies all the requirements for building operations. Besides, thermochemical solutions require different tanks and heat exchangers that should be carefully addressed for small-scale applications. Additional research efforts are needed to optimise operation conditions, efficiency, costs and system designs. European Union SOE1/P3/P0429EU Ministerio de Economía y Competitivdad CTQ2014-52763 -C2 -2-R

Abstract Indoor air quality in school buildings plays an important role in students' wellbeing and performance. The presence and evolution of different compounds are directly affected by indoor activities, classroom materials and equipment, along with outside conditions derived from location and surrounding activities. Despite high CO2 concentration levels in classrooms being regulated in some regions, there is a wide range of pollutant substances that should be considered. This paper analyses a wide spectrum of air pollutants in school buildings to identify their relative impact and relevance. Measured values are compared to the recommended indoor air guideline values (IAGVs) reported in different national regulations and health organisations. This characterisation helps to evaluate the impact of potential indoor and outdoor air pollutant sources in schools; to define appropriate criteria to analyse the exposure to a wide range of air pollutants; and to develop appropriate strategies in order to reduce the exposure to air pollutants and minimise adverse health effects. A set of high priority pollutants, such as CO2, PM2.5, PM10, TVOC and a set of specific aldehydes and volatile organic compounds, were monitored through active and passive measurement in 18 classrooms of 9 Mediterranean schools. These schools were selected according to their construction period, design typology, and students’ ages. The measurements taken during teaching hours show mean CO2 concentration values of 1530 ppm, oscillating in a range from −24% to +31%. The analysis highlights that along with occupancy, the main indoor air pollutant sources in schools are related to settled dust that produces suspension particles during classroom activity, affecting the relative differences in the mean PM concentration value from +36% to +193%. Moreover, aldehydes show high concentration values in infant classrooms, showing relative differences in the mean value from +163% to +313%. Additionally, the study demonstrates that outdoor air pollutant sources in school surroundings, such as high-density traffic areas or industrial activities, play an important role in final indoor air quality performance, affecting PM10, PM2.5, TVOC, benzene and toluene levels. The measurements show good indoor air quality values, below the recommended indoor air quality guidelines, but they also highlight the monitoring interest of some specific compounds for future regulations, such as PM2.5, PM10, TVOC, benzene, toluene or formaldehyde.

One of the greatest challenges for long-term emissions reduction is the decarbonisation of heating and cooling due to the large scale, seasonal variation and distributed nature. Energy flexible buildings with electric heating, smart demand-side management and efficient thermal energy storage are one of the most promising strategies to deploy low-carbon technologies which can benefit the electricity system by reducing the need of reinforcing existing networks and their ability to use electricity in times of low demand and high supply. Combined with spot price contracts, in which the electricity tariff changes every half-hour depending on supply and demand, they can effectively reduce on-peak demand periods, achieve economic profits for end-users and retailers, and reduce the environmental impact of the electricity grid by operating in periods with lower CO2 emissions rate. To achieve these benefits, it is crucial to develop accurate models for energy flexible buildings as well as control strategies to optimise the complex system operation. This paper proposes a novel flexible energy building concept, based on smart control, high density latent heat storage and smart grids, able to predict the best operational strategy according to the environmental conditions, economic rates and expected occupancy patterns. The smart integration model, carried out in TRNSYS for a Scottish case study, solves a multi-criteria assessment based on future energy demand prediction (learning machine model supported by end-user’s predefined occupancy by Internet of Things, present and forecast weather data, and building load monitoring), electricity tariff evolution and building performance. The results show that end-user’s electricity bill savings of 20% are obtained and retailer’s associated electricity cost is reduced by 25%. In addition, despite an increase in final energy consumption of up to 8%, the environmental impact remains constant due to operation at times with lower CO2 emissions rate in electricity generation. The developed tools enable the design of smart energy systems for energy flexible buildings which can have a large positive impact on the building sector decarbonisation. Premio Trimestral Publicación Científica Destacada de la US. Instituto Universitario de Arquitectura y Ciencias de la Construcción

Heating decarbonisation through electrification requires the development of novel heat batteries. They should be suitable for the specific application and match the operation conditions of domestic renewable energy sources. Supercooled liquids, often considered a drawback of phase change materials, are among the most promising technologies supporting heating decarbonisation. Although some studies have shed light on stable supercooling, the fundamentals and stability remain open problems not always accompanied by relevant experimental investigations. This research critically analyses the physic and chemistry of sodium acetate (SA, NaCH3COO) aqueous solution, a low-cost, non-toxic, and abundant compound with stable supercooling for long-term heat storage. It has an appropriate phase change temperature for high-density heat storage using heat pumps or solar thermal technologies in residential applications. The existing discrepancies in literature are critically discussed through a systematic experimental evaluation, providing novel insights into efficient material design and appropriate boundary conditions for reliable material use in long-term heat batteries. Despite previous studies showing that the thermal reliability and stability of sodium acetate aqueous solution as a supercooled liquid for heat storage cannot be guaranteed, this study demonstrates that through an appropriate encapsulation and sealing method, the peritectic composition of sodium acetate solution (p-SA 58 wt%) can be used as a supercooled liquid for long-term heat storage with a stable melting temperature of 57 °C, appropriate for domestic heat technologies. It is demonstrated that energy storage efficiency can be maintained under cycling, with a constant latent heat storage capacity of 245 kJ/kg and a volumetric storage density of 314 MJ/m3. It was confirmed that the material should achieve a fully-melted state for stable supercooling. Finally, local cooling and retaining seed crystals through high pressure were highlighted as the most suitable basic principles for successful crystallization and heat release. This promising material can store energy for long periods without latent heat losses due to its stable subcooling. Latent heat can be released when required at any selected time and temperature just by a simple activation process.

The research field on passive intervention strategies in schools is broad, complex, and fragmented due to the great diversity of disciplines, climates, and approaches. This article applies the scientific mapping software SciMAT to analyse research trends and developments from 1982 to 2020 of 537 papers and identifies the best available 24 passive intervention strategies in schools in 42 countries. The results show that, in the early years, research focused on natural ventilation, especially in arid climates. From 2010 onwards, and coinciding with the rise of energy efficiency regulations, green roofs increased as an alternative to declining urban forests and as a solution for urban heat island mitigation. In recent years, growing concerns about climate change, sustainable development, and numerical measurement methods have driven work on occupant comfort and IAQ, while research on cost overruns and payback of passive versus active design. The need for passive, climate- resilient design techniques is highlighted, building on the progress already made. It identifies the most optimised measures to promote guidelines to serve for future regulations. This study is a valuable contribution because it provides a detailed understanding of the status quo for re- searchers, practitioners, and policymakers and predicts the dynamic directions of the field