Radiation induced melting of a semitransparent vertical slab of phase-change material
In this paper the results of an experimental investigation of the radiative melting of a vertical slab of semitransparent phase-change material (PCM) which results in an unstable hydrodynamic condition giving rise to natural convection fluid motion. The experiment was motivated by the need of preliminary groundwork and initiative for further investigations into this type of a phase-change problem, which is of importance in many and widely varied fields of technology. Among the applications of the melting of a vertical slab of PCM is the latent-heat solar wall used in passive solar housing. Here the use of a semitransparent material in the wall (with one transparent side through which solar energy is incident upon the material) has distinct advantages over the conventional solar wall. A fundamental understanding of heat transfer during melting, arising at least partially from the internal absorption of radiation, is of special significance in the design of such passive systems. The paper is concerned with the melting of a vertical slab of phasechange material contained in a rectangular cavity by irradiation through a transparent vertical wall of a test cell containing the material. Earlier studies, and more recently, of a similar phase-change process (in which the melting was from a heated vertical wall of the test cell rather than by radiation) have provided conclusive evidence of the influence of buoyancy-driven convection in the melt on the liquid/solid interface motion. The objective of the paper is to report on an experimental investigation of the effect of natural convection, coupled with the internal absorption of radiation, on the timewise motion of the melting front and distribution of temperature when the melting is driven by radiation rather than by contact with a heated wall.
- Research Organization:
- Michigan Technological Univ., Houghton, MI
- OSTI ID:
- 6706710
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-831205-
- Journal Information:
- Alternative Energy Sources; (United States), Conference: 6. Miami international conference on alternative energy sources, Miami Beach, FL, USA, 12 Dec 1983
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
14 SOLAR ENERGY
PASSIVE SOLAR WATER HEATERS
WALLS
PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS
DESTRUCTIVE TESTING
MELTING
OPACITY
ABSORPTION HEAT
INCIDENCE ANGLE
IRRADIATION
NATURAL CONVECTION
SOLAR RADIATION
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION
APPLIANCES
CONVECTION
ENERGY
ENTHALPY
EQUIPMENT
HEAT
HEATERS
MATERIALS
MATERIALS TESTING
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR WATER HEATERS
STELLAR RADIATION
TESTING
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
WATER HEATERS
360102* - Metals & Alloys- Structure & Phase Studies
140700 - Solar Thermal Power Systems