Experimental Investigation of the Solidification and Melting Processes of PCMs

Autor: Lucian Fechete Tutunaru, Cristina Adela Iuga, Octavian G. Pop, Mugur C. Balan
Rok vydání: 2020
Předmět:
Zdroj: 2020 IEEE International Conference on Automation, Quality and Testing, Robotics (AQTR).
DOI: 10.1109/aqtr49680.2020.9129923
Popis: A key component of the concept of Smart City is the use of energy efficient technology for household and nonresidential building applications. In this context, the study presents an experimental setup with phase change material (PCM) encapsulated in spherical shells and an analysis of phase change materials for energy efficient cold storage applications using air as heat transfer fluid. The solidification and melting processes are investigated and compared with the thermal behavior indicated by the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) signals generated at cooling and heating rates of 0.1 K/min. The solidification and melting experiments were carried out at a mean air velocity of 0.837 and 0.833 m/s, respectively. The temperature differences between the peak phase change temperature and the mean air temperature are 20.87 and 17.21 °C, for solidification and melting, respectively. It was observed that melting occurred at a higher rate than solidification due to natural convection. Melting completes (3–12) minutes faster than solidification depending on the position of the sphere in the thermal setup. Because of the natural convection some deviations between the experimental and differential scanning calorimetry heating rates were observed. The experimental thermal storage is capable to reduce the air temperature with approximately (7.54-14.61) °C, at melting.
Databáze: OpenAIRE