Nigerian Journal of Technology Vol. 13, No.

1, September 1989, DC Onyejekwe 41

DESIGN AND THERMAL ANLAYSIS OF A SOLAR POWERED COLD

STORAGE WARE-HOUSE USING A PHASE- CHANGE MATERIAL

By

D.C. Onyejekwe
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

ABSTRACT
o
The paper considers the storage of 1000 kg of oranges at a temperature conservation of 1 C with a
requirement of 85% to 90% and air circulation velocity of' 0.3 m/s in the Ware house.
Based on the temperature of utilisation, the paper discusses the physiro-chemical problems
inherent with a phase change material for a desired cyclic performance and gives the thermo-
physical properties of NaF/N2O eutectic mixture used for the analysis.
Using the optimal solar radiation for Nsukka (0.9898 KW/m2) the paper shows the calculations of
the heat requirements and the surface area of the collector/generator. The paper discusses the
design parameters of the components of the aqua-ammonia absorption system. The specification
of the ware house based on calculations is also discussed.
A model for the simulation of heat transfer phenomenon during storage processes is presented.
The paper demonstrates therefore the possibility of the storage in rural areas of Nigeria of
perishable agricultural products at different conservation temperatures corresponding to the
solidification temperatures of phase change materials using cheap and abundant source of energy.

NOMENCLATURE
o
T C Temperature
T S time
 W/moC thermal conductivity
CP J/km3oC specific heat
 kg/m3 density
K W/m2oC Convective heat transfer coefficient
U W/m2oC Overall coefficient of exchange
a M2/3 thermal diffusivity
 K-2 volume expansion coefficient
 m2S kinematic viscosity
 m thickness of solid
f W/m2oC Conductance
v m3 volume
e m container wall thickness
S m2 surface
L KJ/kg Latent beat
Ra g/3 T3/a Rayleigh number
Nu h/1c Nusselt number
Pr v/a Praudt1 number
SUBSCRIPT
1 Solid e – exterior
2 Liquid i – interior
f fluid O – outside
WC container wall
w wall
a air
 Nigerian Journal of Technology Vol. 13, No. 1, September 1989, DC Onyejekwe 42

INTRODUCTION chemical and economic properties of such a

The problems posed by the conservation of material.
perishable food items in the rural areas of The thermodynamic properties include –
this country justify the interests shown on the melting point suitably matched to the
application of solar energy for refrigeration. temperature of utilization 10C in the case of
Solar energy has the limitation of oranges [12]
intermittency and weather dependence. - High latent heat of fusion, specific beat,
Consequently, a solar powered system and density
requires a back-up or auxiliary solar thermal - Small volume change during phase change.
energy storage device for its continuous The kinetic criteria require that the phase
application during the period when it is not change material shows little or no
available. supercooling during freezing and- reasonable
One such device of solar thermal energy rate of crystallization.
storage for low temperature application is the The chemical criteria include: that the PCM
utilisation of a phase change material (PCM). should show chemical stability and no
A phase change material stores and releases degradation during the cyclic performance,
energy at nearly constant temperature, compatibility with the container, non-
around its melting/ solidification point. poisonous, non-flammable and non-
Another advantage of the PCM is the high explosive for safety operations. Economic
storage energy density which implies that consideration demands that the PCM should
larger amount of energy can be stored into a be abundant and cheap.
small PCM mass. The criteria for selection of PCM lead to the
Some work lit [2], [3], [4] have been done on choice of NaF/H2O with the following
solar refrigeration systems-solid properties:
absorption/Calcium Chloride refrigerator;
solid absorption refrigerator, liquid Liquid Solid
3
absorption/aqua-ammonia refrigerator and Density (kg/m )
0
photovoltaic compressor vapour refrigerator. -at 20 C 1.040
Some of these systems are already at the temp. of fusion 0.958
o
thermal conductivity (W/m C)
commercialized. 0
-at 20 C 0.6427
Abat[5], Gawron and others [6], Schroder[7], at the temp. of fusion 1.254
Eekerlin and others [8], Yooeda and others o
Specific Heat (J/kg C)
[9] and Schneider and others[10] have 0
-at 20 C 3.85
shown the characterisation and possible at the temp. of fusion 2.72
utilisation of eutectic mixtures phase change
materials for thermal energy storage. Latent Heat (Massie) 312.7KJ/kg
Onyejekwe [11] made use of NaC1/H2O for Latent Heal (Volumlic) 309.2 KJ/cm3
the preservation of medicaments and Temperature of fusion – 350C.
vaccines at a temperature of -200C. To reduce the volume of expansion (8.9%) of
Not much work has been done in the the PCM during solidification which could
coupling of these separate components cause fatigue (thermal stress) on the walls of
solar the container and to homogenize the process
collector/generation; solar energy thermal 0 crystallization we add 3% by vol. of
storage system; and ware housing for the KF/H2O.
preservation on perishable food items like
oranges. Container
Part of the motivation of this work is Based on compatibility, availability,
therefore the need for conservation of fruits reasonable thermal conductivity and low
all year round, thereby reducing waste cost, polyethylene of the following
during harvest period and assuring supply properties:
during off-season. thermal conductivity 0.4 (W/MoC)

Material Selection: specific heat1757(J/kgoC)

Phase Change Material density 920 (kg/m3)
In the selection of a phase change material temperature of utilisation -30oC - 60oC, is
for use in a system, consideration has lobe chosen as material for the container of PCM.
given to the thermodynamic, kinetic,
 Nigerian Journal of Technology Vol. 13, No. 1, September 1989, DC Onyejekwe 43

For space economy, the provision of thermal reaction between the refrigerant and
contact between the refrigerant in the absorbent is very necessary. Based on the
evaporator tubes and for simplification of the above ammonia
thermal analysis, the PCM is, housed in a (refrigerant 717) with the following properties
flat-plate, evaporator (Figure 1) is selected:
 = 65355 (Kg/m3)
Building: This is the ware house for the Cp = 4.56 (KJ/Kg°C)
storage of oranges at 1oC and relative  0543(W/m°C)
humidity of between 85% to 90%. The a = 1.825 x 10-7 (m2/s)
material for consideration include: the  = 2.45 x 10-3 k-1
reduction to minimum the infiltration load; Boiling point -33.33°C; freezing point =
material of low thermal conductivity; 77.8°C
strength, especially the roof in order to be v = 0.368 x 10-6m2/s
able to carry both the collector and
evaporator for long life span of system cost Absorbent: When considering the criteria for
and availability. selection of the absorbent such properties as
Based on the above, the following materials the boiling point, chemical stability, viscosity,
are selected for the construction of the heat capacity and non-corrosiveness are
building. considered but in practice it is the criteria
Common building bricks (150mm to 290mm based on compatibility and practicability are
thickness) of density  = 1820(kg/m3) the necessary conditions for absorbent-
thermal conductivity  = 0.810 (W/moC) and refrigerant combination. These include
specific heat CP = 0.84(KJ/KgoC) are used mutual solubility, low specific heat, low
for the walls; and for the roof, we use a viscosity, vapour pressure of the absorbent
reinforced concrete  =1920 (Kg/m2); build relative to the refrigerant. In addition, the
up flat roofing with 13mm plaster of  = 1762 chemical properties of the combination
= 1762 (Kg/m3),  = 0.721 (W/m – C) and Cp should not attack the component of the
= 0.84.. (KJ/KgoC) and system.
thermal conductivity  = 1.099 (W/m C). The
o Based on the, above conditions, water, the
roofing is supported with iron rods, to carry properties of which are widely known, is
the evaporator and solar collector/generator. chosen as the absorbent.
Glass window  = 2350 (Kg/m3),  = 0.815
(W/moC) and Cp = 0.84 (KJ/KgoC) and Determination of the Refrigeration Load
wooden door  = 480 (Kg/m3),  = 0.072 The cooling load of refrigeration could be
(Kg/m3) Cp = 24(KJ/KgoC) are used. expressed in the form
The floor is made up of concrete slab resting QT = Qr + Qw + Qd + Qp +Qm
on a grade or fill depending on the texture of (1)
the soil. The poor thermal conductivity of the where Qr is, the heat that enter the
concrete reduces the frost upheaval of the refrigerated space by direct radiation through
foundation soils and consequently there is glass. Qr = A U x T.
no need for auxiliary defrosting for the soil Qw is the wall leakage load calculated from
since the temperature of utilization is above the relation:
zero degree. Qc = A x U x T
uIifisation is above zero degree. U is calculated from
(2)
Refrigerant: The following criteria for where
selection of a refrigerant in the absorption X1, X2 … Xa = material thickness
system are considered. High heat of
1, 2…n = corresponding thermal
vaporization for low fluid circulation rates; the
conductivity
boiling point, as this influences the
For the Area, we differentiate among East
evaporator and generator pressures;
facing wall West facing wall and roof. The
low specific heat to reduce the losses
optimum insulation thickness is determined
incurred at the condenser during cooling of
as 60mm.
the refrigerant vapour and those incurred
Qd = Heat into the refrigerated space from
during the throttling process and chemically
the ambient
stable throughout the range of operation and
Qd = M(ho - hi) (3)
should not undergo inreversible reaction with
where,
any material in the system. Reversible
 Nigerian Journal of Technology Vol. 13, No. 1, September 1989, DC Onyejekwe 44

Qd = (Infiltration rate) x (Enthalpy Table side (water)

change) Number of tubes = 35
QP = the product heat given by the Length of tubes =
equation 100cm
QP = (M) (C) (DT) (4) Pitch - 3.175cm
Tube types is 14 BWG, 2.54cm OD
A more useful parameter ill the design is the Passes = 1
cooling rate given as Pressure drop across the condenser =
3.0550 x 10-4bar
(5) Evaporator - flat Plate Tubed
Type
Plate Bank Model = 63 O.D.
Respiration heat of the oranges was also width of the plate = 0.3m
considered based on Dossat [13]. Qm are Length of plate 3m
taken as miscellaneous load which include Height of plate = 0.44m
human occupants and heat producing Number of Plate bank = 6
equipment. This is determined from Number of tubes per plate bank =
Dossat[13]. 25
Qm = Number of people x heat equivalent (6) Tube type is 14BWG of 0.834LD
The total refrigeration load QT is the
Tube material is Steel (1020) of  =
summation of the right side of equation (1)
54W/moC
plus a safety measure of 5 - 10% and it is
Plate material is polyethylene
( )
Type of plate bank circuit is in series.
(7) Figure (2) shows the sketch of tube
This was found to be 30.672.kW. arrangements in the plate banks and how the
banks are arranged for mounting.
System Design and Specification
Collector/Generator Heat Exchanger:
The optimum solar radiation for Nsukka is 0 Type – double pipe
.9898 KW/m2 and this forms the basis of the No. of legs 48
design analysis. The following Inner tube: I.D 12.8cnm 0. D 14. 2cn
specifications are calculated. Outer tube: I.D 15.4cm, 0. D 16.8cm
Cooling load = 30.672KW Inner tube fluid - Cold streng Amtnnia
Evaporator temperature = -8oC solution of Inlet tmp. - 21 oC
Evaporator pressure = 3.1602 bar Mass flow rate = 0.19764 Kg/s
Condenser temperature = 35 oC Concentration = 0.52
Condenser pressure = 13.552 bar Outer tube fluid – hot weak solution of inlet
Concentration of strong ammonia solution = temperature - 85 oC
0.582 Outlet temperature – 21.20 oC
Absorber pressure = 3.1602 bar Mass flow rate – 0.16940 kg/s
Generator pressure = condenser pressure = Concentration – 0.44
13.552 bar Total pressure drop in the annulus – 4.9547 x
Heat exchange pressure = 13.522 bar 10-4 bar.
Temperature of strong solution reaching The Absorber:
generator = 75 oC. Shell side (strong NH3 Solution)
Collector surface = 49m2 Dis = 22.2cm
Number of tubes required = 99 of internal Number of Baffles 5
diameter 0.5cm and outer diameter 0.9cm Baffles spacing 20cm
Passes 1
Condenser: Length 116cm
From the calculations, the following Material steel ( = 54 W/m oC)
specifications for the condenser are used . Table side (Cooling Water)
Shell side (NH3) Number 0f tubes - 35
Dsi = 22.225cm Length of tube – 166cm
Number of baft1es = 4 Pitch – 3.175cm
Baffle spacing = 20cm Passes – 1
Passes = 1 Other features of the system like the solution
Length = l00cm Pump the expansion value and the rectifier
 Nigerian Journal of Technology Vol. 13, No. 1, September 1989, DC Onyejekwe 45

were also considered. ( )+ (12a)

An assemble of the different components is Where
shown in figure (3). ( )
The rate of diminution of the thickness of
Modeling solid is determined from the energy balance
The model considers the period when there at the inter face.
is no solar energy which implies that the ( ) ( )
(13)
phase change material keeps the ware house hence
at the required temperature of 1 oC ( )
Since the PCM is housed in a flat – plate * ( ) ( )
+ (13a)
evaporator mounted on the flat – roof, the Using the computer Apple 2, a programme
‘cold’ output of the PCM as it gives out its making use of equation - (10a), (12a) and
heat of fusion is considered mono – (13a) is made for the temperature
directional with the downward direction of Y – distribution of the air inside the ware house.
axis considered positive. Furthermore, such
thermal properties - , , CP,  are CONCLUSION
considered constant for each phase For the sake of brevity, the detailed
solid/liquid. calculations are not presented here, they
The generalized equation are written for the can be found in ref, [14].
phase Encouraged by the results of the model
(7) based on the design parameters and
calculations which showed temperature of
With a1 = 1/1 CP1 the ware house remained at 1oC for 16
For the liquid phase hours, a prototype of the system is being
built.
With a2 = 1/1 CP2 It is hoped that the performance of the
and for the solid/liquid interface, system would be compared with the result
of this work.
(9)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This work is sponsored by the Nigerian
The storage phase leads to a progressive Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.
diminution of the solid state with convection
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