Latent heat storage in a fixed-bed packed with cross-linked polymer particles

Abstract

Experimental and numerical analyses were carried out to investigate the discharge characteristics of a fixed-bed, using form-stable cross-linked cylindrical polymer particles as a phase change type of heat storage material and ethylene glycol as heat transfer fluid. Firstly, particle-to-fluid heat transfer coefficient in a fixed-bed, essential for analyzing the discharge characteristics of the latent heat storage column, were evaluated experimentally using Schumann’s extended theory, and an empirical formula for estimating the heat transfer coefficient was presented. Secondly, by using the empirical formula, the transient temperature distribution in the column and the transient response of the outlet temperature of the heat transfer fluid were calculated numerically, and the latter was compared with measurements of the outlet temperature of the fluid. The numerical results were found to be in good agreement with the experimental results.