抄録
Application of latent heat storage technology using phase change materials (PCM) to reduce temperature changes in heat transfer fluid was studied. Temperature characteristics of heat transfer fluid flowing in a copper pipe surrounded by pure PCM or composite PCM where high porosity porous metals were saturated by the PCM were investigated by experiment and analyses. Experiment was performed by using air as a heat transfer fluid, octadecane as a PCM and copper and nickel foams as porous metals. Experimental results were compared with numerical and approximate analyses.
The results show that composite PCM with increased effective thermal conductivity augmented temperature change reduction of the heat transfer fluid. The highest reduction rate was performed by the copper foam, the second and the third were the nickel foams with fine and large pore sizes respectively. Reduction rate is increased with the increase in Reynolds number. Numerical results agreed comparatively well with the experimental results, especially agreement was well for case of the composite PCM. This implies natural convection in liquid PCM is suppressed by inserting the metal foams.
Use of latent heat storage technology at higher Reynolds number region will be effective for the reduction of temperature changes in heat transfer fluid.
