Large-Scale Experimental Study of a Phase Change Material: Shape Identification for the Solid–Liquid Interface

This study describes the development of an experimental setup that tracks the evolution of the melting and freezing fronts of a Phase Change Material (PCM), in this case paraffin. The results obtained enable the examination of the shape and movement of the melting front of the PCM. Two modes of heat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of thermophysics 2015-11, Vol.36 (10-11), p.2897-2915
Main Authors: Kadri, Soumaya, Dhifaoui, Belgacem, Dutil, Yvan, Jabrallah, Sadok Ben, Rousse, Daniel R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Classical Mechanics
Condensed Matter Physics
Convection
Convection modes
Evolution
Heat transfer
Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering
Melting
Melts
Monitoring
Phase change materials
Physical Chemistry
Physics
Physics and Astronomy
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Summary:This study describes the development of an experimental setup that tracks the evolution of the melting and freezing fronts of a Phase Change Material (PCM), in this case paraffin. The results obtained enable the examination of the shape and movement of the melting front of the PCM. Two modes of heat transfer were identified during the melting process: conduction when melting began and natural convection, which becomes dominant in the remainder of the cycle. Monitoring of the melt over time shows that the melt fraction, expressed as the ratio of the molten volume and solid volume, is proportional to the difference between the imposed temperature and the melting temperature. Experimental results confirm the linearity proposed by other researchers.
ISSN:0195-928X
1572-9567
DOI:10.1007/s10765-015-1935-y