Comparative Studies of PCM Based TES System Using Different PCMs

Abstract:

The purpose of thermal energy storage systems (TES) is to store the heat energy supplied to it for a considerable time period and give the energy back when ever need arise. On many of occasions, part of the heat energy of various systems is unutilized. If this excess heat energy be stored in such systems as TESS, utilization of energy improves. If the use of such systems is widespread, fuel is conserved and national economy is saved.Different materials can be used in TESS to store heat energy and in the present work two such materials, which are popular phase change materials (PCM) namely (a) Paraffin (b) Stearic acid are used and subsequently the performance of the TESS is studied. The PCMs are used in the form of spherical capsules made up of high density poly ethylene (HDPE) of diameter 58 mm. Charging time and amount of heat energy recovered are studied for the two PCMs mentioned above and compared. Though paraffin as PCM gives little better heat energy recovery, performance of both the materials are almost the same. Hence as the cost of stearic acid is less when compared to paraffin on economical grounds and on ease of availability basis stearic acid has advantages over paraffin.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 787)
• Pages: 88-91
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.787.88
• Online since: August 2015
• Authors: R. Meenakshi Reddy*, K. Krishna Reddy, E. Siva Reddy, T. Hariprasad
• Keywords: Heat Transfer Fluid (HTF), Latent Heat, Paraffin, Phase Change Material (PCM), Stearic Acid, Thermal Energy Storage (TES)

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