NUMERICAL PERFORMANCE STUDY OF PARAFFIN WAX DISPERSED WITH ALUMINA IN A CONCENTRIC PIPE LATENT HEAT STORAGE SYSTEM

Abstract

Latent heat energy storage systems using paraffin wax could have lower heat transfer rates during melting/freezing processes due to its inherent low thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity of paraffin wax can be enhanced by employing high conductivity materials such as alumina (Al2O3). A numerical analysis has been carried out to study the performance enhancement of paraffin wax with nanoalumina (Al2O3) particles in comparison with simple paraffin wax in a concentric double pipe heat exchanger. Numerical analysis indicates that the charge-discharge rates of thermal energy can be greatly enhanced using paraffin wax with alumina as compared with a simple paraffin wax as PCM.

Keywords

Dates

  • Submission Date2011-04-17
  • Revision Date2011-12-21
  • Acceptance Date2011-12-21

DOI Reference

10.2298/TSCI110417004A

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