RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

In accordance with project objectives, the methodology includes:

1. Experimental research

Experimental research will be performed in the Laboratory for thermal measurements, Laboratory for heating, ventilation and air conditioning and Laboratory for refrigeration at Faculty of Engineering University of Rijeka. Test heat exchangers and the latent heat storage unit will be installed in test systems that will be equipped with temperature, velocity and flow measurement sensors. Sensors in the measuring field will be connected to a computer through the data acquisition and processing system. Computer will be equipped with LabView software in which appropriate custom applications will be designed. In experimental research, standard measuring methodology, that includes sensors calibration, measurement uncertainty assessment and statistical processing of collected data, will be used.

2. Numerical modelling

For the purpose of numerical analyses, considering the physical processes for each of the research problem, domain for numerical calculation will be defined and mathematical model, that includes equations of conservation and initial and boundary conditions, will be set up. Numerical method will be chosen and numerical calculations, using Ansys software, will be performed.

3. System simulation

For the system simulation, using Trnsys software, computer simulations of renewable energy system with latent heat storage, for different operating conditions and system components dimensions, will be carried out.

4. Optimization methods

In order to find the optimal geometry characteristics of fin and tube heat exchangers, the appropriate optimization methods will be used.