Abstract:
This thesis is a study of medium temperature phase change
thermal storage system. The study is divided into two parts. In the
first part, a mathematical model for predicting the system performance
was developed by using the three levels enthalpy method. A Fourier
equation in the form of finite difference was used to predict the
storage material temperature and enthalpy change. To select ..
parameters for the prediction in studying the effect of working fluid
flow rates, the effect of the time interval and the size of the
divided storage unit was studied. The calculations were done by
varying the time interval which was found to have no effect on the
results when the calculation is stable.
The second part was the experimental study of the effect of
working fluid flow rates, the 3-kW-hr pilot scale thermal storage
system, designed and constructed by Suvit Tia, was used for the
experimental study. The unit was designed similar to a. cross flow
heat exchanger a number of stainless steel tubes containing the
storage material (the eutectic salt of NaN03- KNO3) were place
perpendicularly to the flow direction of working fluid (Caltex
Texatherm). Three flow rates were used in the study,?they were 13, 9
and 5 litre/minute. The dispersion of the oil temperature near the
outlet was dependent on the flow rate. At the lower flow rate the oil
temperature of both sides near the steel plates which support the tube
bundle was higher than in the middle possibly due to the heat
conduction by the steel support plate. In the discharging period, the
stratification of oil temperature was clearly demonstrated. Because
of the small tube size used, the temperature of the storage material
were almost independent of the position with in a tube.
The mathematical model were tested by comparing the predicted
temperature with the experimental data. Although the temperature
predicted deviated from that measured experimentally significantly,
the trends and the dependent on flow rate were similar. The overall
thermal efficiency of the system at low flow rate was found to be
higher than at the high flow rate.