https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/preview/938493/Literature%20review%20PCM-first%20revision%20Jack%20Edited%20%281%29.pdf

A review of the applications of phase change materials in cooling, heating and power generation in different temperature ranges

Performance improvement of solar thermal systems integrated with phase change materials (PCM), a review

Energy storage has become an important part in renewable energy technology systems. Solar thermal systems, unlike photovoltaic systems with striving efficiencies, are industrially matured, and utilize major part of sun's thermal energy during the day. Yet, it does not have enough (thermal) backup to keep operating during the low or no solar radiation hours. New materials are selected, characterized, and enhanced in their thermo-physical properties to serve the purpose of a 24 h operation in an efficient thermal energy storage system (TESS). Solar absorption refrigeration system requires a continuous operation in many of its applications (food storage, space cooling etc), which in turn requires an efficient TES system utilizing material with high heat of fusion, eg. phase change materials (PCMs). This review is a comprehensive evaluation of suitable PCM selection, methodologies of integration, enhancements and challenges for operating temperatures of each component in a single-effect solar absorption system affecting its performance. Observations and lessons from previous studies are discussed in detail. Recommendations based on investigation results, advantages and drawback of PCMs, PCM enhancement options, energy, exergy and cost analysis are made for the future research direction.

A review for phase change materials (PCMs) in solar absorption refrigeration systems

A review of refrigerant R1234ze(E) recent investigations

Heat and cold storage using phase change materials in domestic refrigeration systems: The state-of-the-art review

This experimental study measured and compared the heat transfer coefficients during in-tube evaporation of R1234ze(E), R32, the nearly azeotropic HFC refrigerant blend R410A and a zeotropic mixture R1234ze(E)/R32 (55/45 mass %) inside a water heated double tube heat exchanger. The experiment has been carried out under the conditions of mass flux varying from 150 to 445 kg m−2 s−1, the saturation temperatures are 5 and 10 °C, over the vapor quality range 0.0–1.0. The effect of vapor quality, mass flux and saturation temperature on heat transfer coefficients have been analyzed. It is found that the experimental heat transfer coefficients of R1234ze(E) are lower than R1234ze(E)/R32 (55/45mass%), R410A and R32 by 11%, 56% and 83%, respectively, at about 0.48 vapor quality and 300 kg m−2 s−1 mass velocity. Experimental results have been compared with some well-known correlations.

Heat transfer during evaporation of R1234ze(E), R32, R410A and a mixture of R1234ze(E) and R32 inside a horizontal smooth tube

Local heat transfer coefficients and pressure drops during condensation of pure Dimethyl Ether (DME) and non-azeotropic mixtures of CO 2 and DME inside a horizontal smooth tube have been measured experimentally. The mass fractions of CO 2 and DME in the mixtures have been varied as CO 2 /DME (39/61, 21/79 mass%) and the refrigerant mass fluxes have been varied from 200 to 500 kg m −2  s −1 . The increase of mass fraction of CO 2 in the mixture decreases the heat transfer coefficient and the pressure drop. At the high refrigerant mass flux, the effect of mass transfer resistance on the heat transfer is decreased. Existing prediction method for condensation of binary refrigerant mixtures, which considered the vapor core mass transfer resistance, has been used to predict the present experimental data. Changing of the two-phase frictional multiplier in that prediction method has improved the prediction of the present experimental data.

Heat transfer coefficients and pressure drops during in-tube condensation of CO2/DME mixture refrigerant

Effect of Phase Change Material on Performance of a Household Refrigerator

In this work, phase change material (PCM) is considered as thermal energy backup system for solar cold storage applications when there is peak power demand or power failure or no sun shines situations. A numerical study of solidification (charging) and melting (discharging) of PCM validated by experimental data is performed to explore the performance of a unique latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) system. The LHTES unit (PCM pack) occupied with PCM acts as a heat exchanger made up from evaporator tube along with rectangular metal fins which enhance the heat transfer during phase changing of PCM. Evaporator with 5, 8, 10, and 12 longitudinal aluminum fins, and without fin inside the PCM pack of six different thicknesses (4.5 cm, 5.0 cm 5.5 cm, 6.0 cm, 6.5 cm, and 7.0 cm) are considered to investigate the charging and discharging characteristics of PCM in our present study. To obtain the best performance from the PCM pack, heat transfer characteristics and temperature distributions of PCM, and the effect of variation of thickness of the PCM pack are studied through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. Solidification and melting model of ANSYS Fluent 15.0 package employing enthalpy-porosity technique is used to develop 3-D simulation models. Faster solidification, as well as a higher energy storage capacity and heat flux during melting is found for the PCM pack of 6.5 cm thickness with higher number of fins. A lab scale experimental set-up is fabricated to compare the present simulation results which shows reasonably well validation during both the charging and discharging.

Heat transfer enhancement of charging and discharging of phase change materials and size optimization of a latent thermal energy storage system for solar cold storage application

Effects of phase change material on compressor on-off cycle of a household refrigerator has been investigated experimentally. Phase change materials are used behind the five sides of the evaporator cabinet, and the evaporator coil is immersed in the phase change material. Two types of phase change materials at different thermal loads have been used for the investigation. Experimental results with phase change material show that the number of compressor on-off cycles within the tested time are around 3–5 times lower than that of the system without phase change material, ultimately reducing the efficiency losses of the system as compared to a conventional refrigeration system. The experimental results with phase change material also confirm that average compressor running time is reduced about 5–30% as compared to without phase change material, and the test results with phase change material prove a noticeable reduction of the temperature fluctuation inside the cabinet.

Hasan M.M. Afroz

Papers

Heat transfer during evaporation of R1234ze(E), R32, R410A and a mixture of R1234ze(E) and R32 inside a horizontal smooth tube

Heat transfer coefficients and pressure drops during in-tube condensation of CO2/DME mixture refrigerant

Effect of Phase Change Material on Performance of a Household Refrigerator

Heat transfer enhancement of charging and discharging of phase change materials and size optimization of a latent thermal energy storage system for solar cold storage application

Effect of phase change material on compressor on-off cycling of a household refrigerator