149
Views
32
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Articles

THE ROLE OF NATURAL CONVECTION DURING MELTING AND SOLIDIFICATION OF PCM IN A VERTICAL CYLINDER

, , &
Pages 43-60 | Received 11 Mar 1988, Accepted 21 Dec 1988, Published online: 25 Apr 2007
 

Abstract

Measurements of heat transfer during melting and solidfkation of n-eicosane and rt-hexadecane were performed in vertical cylinders with two different lengths and diameters. Radial temperature distibutions were measured with lime at different heights in all the tests. To evaluate the rate of heat charged and discharged from the cylinder at different heights, the data were recorded and processed directly usinj; on-line computer. A theoretical model was developed based on solving the one-dimensional unsteady heat conduction equation in both phases. Convection in the liquid was included using an effective thermal conductivity; a lumped parameter that includes also the effect of the two-dimensional heat transfer during melting. The model, which may be used for the prediction of both melting and solidfkation experiments, takes into account the effect of initial subcooling or superheating and includes the heat capacity of the cylinder containing the PCM. The agreement of the model was good not only with the experimental results of this work, but also with the published work of the others.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.