Energy analysis of a novel Rotary Wheel Recuperator with embedded Phase Change Material

This paper numerically analyses the energy savings capacity of a novel Rotary Wheel Recuperator (RWR) system with Phase Change Material (PCM) embedded into the metallic structure of the system. As a novelty, several cases with different wall materials are analysed. PCM helps increase the storage cap...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Garrido Martínez, Elena, Córcoles Tendero, Juan Ignacio, Almendros Ibáñez, José Antonio
Format: article
Publication Date:2026
Country:España
Institution:Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha
Repository:RUIdeRA. Repositorio Institucional de la UCLM
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:ruidera_____::3c661922f812ddd2467a37ec7223f695
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2026.121862
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352152X26015264?via%3Dihub
https://hdl.handle.net/10578/48187
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Energy efficiency
Energy recuperator
Heat exchanger
PCM
Rotary Wheel Recuperator
Description
Summary:This paper numerically analyses the energy savings capacity of a novel Rotary Wheel Recuperator (RWR) system with Phase Change Material (PCM) embedded into the metallic structure of the system. As a novelty, several cases with different wall materials are analysed. PCM helps increase the storage capacity and extends the time that the system is working. The study covers different PCM content (up to 20%) and different thicknesses of the metallic structure (between 0.25 mm and 1.30 mm). The study concludes than an optimum combination of a PCM content of 15% in mass and a wall thickness of thopt = 0.75 mm, would permit the additively manufacturing of the proposed system and a proper operation without an excessive air pressure drop and a high charging efficiency. With these parameters and a Coefficient of Performance (COP) of 1, the extra energy consumed by the fan is less than 1.2% of the energy saved by the RWR.