Experimental Study of the Thermal Performance of an Air Solar Collector with Latent Heat Storage Based on Beeswax
Ousseynou Diao1, Ababacar Thiam2,*, Baba Ngom1,*, Josué Yankodjileluwe1,*
1 Centre de Recherche en Sciences de l’Ingénieur et Numérique pour le Développement Durable, Ecole Polytechnique de Thies, Thies, Senegal
2 Ufr SATIC, Department of Physics, Alioune Diop University, Bambey, Senegal
* Corresponding Author: Ababacar Thiam. Email: 
; Baba Ngom. Email: 
; Josué Yankodjileluwe. Email: 
Energy Engineering https://doi.org/10.32604/ee.2026.086453
Received 30 May 2026; Accepted 28 July 2026; Published online 10 September 2026
Abstract
The mismatch between the availability of solar radiation during the day and heat demand in the evening is one of the challenges of solar energy. Energy storage is a solution that can improve the efficiency of solar thermal applications. In this article, we focused on the experimental study of the thermal performance of an air-based solar collector using beeswax as a phase change material (PCM). A container filled with beeswax, which has a melting point of 60°C, is placed beneath the absorber of the collector with storage. Solar thermal collectors are designed and tested under the climatic conditions of the city of Thiès, Senegal. The effect of storage on the outlet air temperature and the efficiency over four days is discussed. The performance of the thermal collector with storage is compared to that of a conventional air collector. Experimental results indicate that it is possible to obtain an air temperature difference of 5.4°C at the outlets of the two collectors for one hour after sunset. Based on the results obtained in this study, it is demonstrated that the use of beeswax improves the outlet air temperature after sunset.
Keywords
Air solar collector; phase change material (PCM); beeswax; thermal energy storage; instant efficiency; air outlet temperature; daily efficiency
Open Access
Login
Register
Submit a Paper
Propose a Special lssue
Download PDF
Downloads
Citation Tools
