Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

An experimental study of heat transfer from an immersed coil to a pool of PCM: Effect of cycling

Conference · · Alternative Energy Sources; (United States)
OSTI ID:6802314

This paper presents results of an experimental investigation of surface-averaged, time-wise variation of the heat transfer rate during melting and freezing of a PCM (commercial paraffin wax) contained in a large pool; the heat transfer fluid flows through a coil immersed in the pool of PCM. Heat transfer measurements are made during melting as well as freezing. Since in the most realistic application of a PCM storage-type heat exchanger, the PCM is subjected to cycling i.e. alternating melting (during the storage mode) and freezing (during the heat recovery mode), the present study included an evaluation of the effect of controlled cycling. Heat transfer data were obtained for varying cycle times (i.e. 30 mon., 60 min., 180 min. etc). Also, data were obtained with different temperatures of the heat transfer fluid. Implications of the results in the light of practical heat exchanger design using immersed coils will be discussed.

Research Organization:
McGill Univ., Montreal
OSTI ID:
6802314
Report Number(s):
CONF-831205-
Journal Information:
Alternative Energy Sources; (United States), Journal Name: Alternative Energy Sources; (United States); ISSN ALESD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English