DEVELOPMENT OF A CONSTANT TEMPERATURE BATH USING PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS FOR LOW TEMPERATURE APPLICATIONS

B. SRIRAM (31509114050) III MECH K. VINOTH KUMAR (31509114058) III MECH N. ARUNACHALAM (31509114005) III MECH A. PADMANATHAN (31509114304) III MECH
SUPERVISOR: Dr. N. LAKSHMI NARASIMHAN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR MECHANICAL DEPARTMENT

PROBLEM DEFINITION

A constant temperature bath employing a thermal energy storage material and operating between 0 to 50C is to be built and tested. Comparison on the performance between the systems with and without a thermal storage material shall be carried out experimentally.

MOTIVATION
Chillers for Diffusion Vacuum Pumps have been fabricated and deployed successfully at our Crystal Growth Centre by our senior students. There exists a scope for modifying the design of chillers to function as a Constant Temperature Bath. Integration of a Thermal Storage Device to such Constant Temperature Baths is a novel idea and studies are needed to understand the system performance in real situations.

OBJECTIVES
To design and build a unit that can maintain temperatures in the range 0 to 50 C for 20 lit water capacity. To design and integrate a thermal storage device with the unit. To test the performance of the unit with and without a thermal storage system.

PROPOSED DESIGN
Temperature of Bath = 0 to 50C Tank Capacity = 20 litres Mwater = 20 kg QLoad for 0 to 30C = 2500 Watts (estimated) QChiller = 1 TR (selected) QHeater for 30 to 50C = 1 kW (selected) Tank Dimensions (Inner Dimensions) = 303025 cm3 Identified PCM - HS7N (-7 to -5C) or Frost (-1 to +1C) Identified Supplier - Pluss Polymers Ltd., Noida

SCHEMATIC OF THE PROPOSED UNIT WITHOUT PCM

Refrigeration unit Heater unit PID controller Temperature sensor (Pt 100)

PROPESED UNIT WITH PCM

PCM Refrigeration unit Heater unit PID controller Temperature sensor (Pt 100)

SPECIAL FEATURES Our system is Cost Effective when compared to the market availability. Energy conservation can be made by employing PCM. By going for mass production, the cost can be reduced to a considerable extent.

TIME SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

Activity Literature Survey on PCMs Design of heat exchanger and PCM Procurement of materials Fabrication of the unit Period 0-1 months Milestone

1-2 months

Fixing the size of the unit and capacity Preparation of quotes, procurement Construction of the unit and making it ready for testing Testing the actual performance of the unit. Preparing the final report.

3 months 3 months

Experimentation 3 months

Documentation

1 month

TOTAL TIME : 12 MONTHS

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TIME SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES (Bar Chart)

Documentation

Experimentation

Events

Fabrication Procurement of Materials Design of Heat Exchanger Literature survey 0 2 4

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10

12

Months

BUDGET ESTIMATION
(i) NON CONSUMABLES
S. No 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Items Compressor Condenser Heat Exchanger Evaporator Vessel Heater PID RTD Temperature Indicator Refrigerant Gas PCM Insulation Pressure Gauges Thermocouple Total (A) Approximate Cost (Rs.) 6000/1200/4000/1300/1500/3000/1000/5000/3000/2000/1500/1000/1500/32000/-

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Budget Estimation (Contd) (ii) CONSUMABLES

S. No 1. 2. 3. 4. Items Copper and Silver Brazing Rods Adhesives Thermal Paste Miscellaneous Total (B) Approximate Cost(Rs) 1000/500/500/1000/3000/-

(iii) CHARGES TOWARDS FABRICATION AND LABOR

S. No 1. Items Fabrication and labour charges Total (C) Approximate Cost(Rs) 6000/6000/-

TOTAL BUDGET ESTIMATE (A+B+C) : Rs.41,000/-

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EXPECTED OUTCOME Development of a cost effective low temperature bath. Understanding the actual performance of the bath with a Latent Heat Storage. A Publication in National/International level.

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THANK YOU