An Analysis on Thermal Energy Storage in Paraffin-Wax Using Tube Array on a Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger

Authors: Syukri Himran, Rustan Taraka, Anto Duma

Abstract:

The aim of the study is to improve the understanding of latent and sensible thermal energy storage within a paraffin wax media by an array of cylindrical tubes arranged both in in-line and staggered layouts. An analytical and experimental study is carried out in a horizontal shell-and-tube type system during melting process. Pertamina paraffin-wax was used as a phase change material (PCM), while the tubes are embedded in the PCM. From analytical study we can obtain the useful information in designing a thermal energy storage such as: the motion of interface, amount of material melted at any time in the process, and the heat storage characteristic during melting. The use of staggered tubes is proposed compared to in-line layout in a heat exchanger as thermal storage. The experimental study is used to verify the validity of the analytical predictions. From the comparisons, the analytical and experimental data are in a good agreement.

Keywords: Latent, sensible, paraffin-wax, thermal energy storage, conduction, natural convection.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1109930

References:

[1] Telkes, M., Solar Energy Storage, ASHRE Journal, 1974, pp.38-44.
[2] Kovach, E.G., Thermal Energy Storage, Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1976.
[3] Abhat, A., Low Temperature Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage: Heat Storage Materials, Solar Energy, Vol.30, No.41983, pp.313-332.
[4] Lane, G. A., Solar Heat Storage: Latent Heat Materials, Vol. II, CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, Florida, 1983,pp. 153 – 215.
[5] Himran, S., Suwono A. and Mansoori G. A., Characterization of Alkenes and Paraffin Waxes for Application as Phase Change Energy Storage Medium, Energy Sources, Vol. 16, 1994,pp. 117-128.
[6] Wyman, C., Castle, J., and Kreith, F., A Review of Collector and Energy Storage Technology for Intermediate Temperature Applications, Solar Energy, Vol. 24, Great Britain, 1980, pp. 517-540.
[7] Ozişik, M.N., Heat Conduction, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, NY, 1980, pp. 397-431.
[8] Humphries, W.R. and Griggs, E.I., A Design Handbook for Phase Change Thermal Control and Energy Storage Devices, NASA Technical Paper 1074, Science and Technical Information Office, 1977.
[9] Melpolder, F.W., Turner W.R. and Wilbur B.C., A Nomograph for the Estimation of Paraffin Wax Composition, Tappi, Vol.47, No.5, 1964, pp.283-285, May.
[10] Bathelt, A. G., Viskanta, R., and Leidenfrost, W., Heat Transfer from Cylinder during Melting of a Thermal Energy Storage Material, International Heat Transfer Conference, 6th, Toronto, Canada, 1978,pp. 179 -184, 7-11 August.