Numerical and Experimental

Analyses of
Phase Change Material in
Commercial Refrigeration System
Presented by
TARUN KUMAR DESHMUKH
211316004, 3rd SEMESTER
THERMAL POWER ENGINEERING
 OBJECTIVES
1. To identify the various phase changing material
(PCM) which are suitable for the commercial
refrigeration system.
2. To conduct the energy conservation studies of the
various phase changing material (PCM) in the cold
storage system and find out the most suitable phase
changing material (PCM) for commercial
refrigeration system.
3. To optimize the compressor life and reducing the
overall cost.
 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Literature Survey

Properties determination of different PCM

Identification of suitable PCM which are having required properties

CFD Analysis

Geometry creation Solving mass, momentum, Post processing and results

Meshing energy equation

Development of correlation for melting and solidification time

 WORK COMPLETED
1. Properties of PCM have been studied and required
PCM have been identified.
2. Compatibility studies for the suitable jacket material
to keep PCM have been identified.
3. Required cooling load for commercial refrigeration
system has been calculated using EES software .
4. Based on studies Paraffin C-15 and Formic acid
have been identified and they are being tested .
5. Various parameter like latent heat, melting
temperature have been obtained.
 Comparison between the PCMs in terms of general
properties

S/N Composition Type Melting Heat of Thermal Density

Temperature Fusion Conductivity, (kg/m3 )
(C) (kJ/kg) K (W/mK)
1. Paraffin C15 C16 Organic 8 253 ---- ----

2. Formic Acid Fatty 7.8 247 ---- ----

Acid
3. Polygycol E400 Inorganic 8 25.5 ---- ----

Polygycol E400 Organic 8 99.6 0.187 (l) 1125(l)

(liquid)
4. LiClO3- 3H2O Inorganic 8.1 253 ---- ----
 WORK TO BE COMPLETED
1. After getting results from testing lab, testing of
remaining two PCMs ( Polygycol-400, LiClO3- 3H2O)
will be done and comparison will be done.
2. Comparison of properties of PCMs obtained by DSC
test :-
(i) Heating and cooling curves.
(ii) Latent heat of fusion and solidification.
(iii) Melting, solidification and peak temperature.
(iv) Enthalpy Vs temperature graph for both phases.
3. After comparison of PCMs, one PCM will be selected
and CFD and experimental analysis will be done.
4. At last, on the basis of experimental data obtained,
correlation will be developed for charging
(solidification) and discharging (melting) time of PCM.
 REFERENCES
1. Performance of study on air cooled household refrigerator with
cold storage phase change material by Zhangbao Liu, Dongfeng
Zhao, Qinghua Wang, Yuangying Chi, International Journal of
Refrigeration 79 (2017), Page No: 130142.
2. Development of correlation for melting time of phase change
material in latent heat storage systems by Rathod Manish K.,
Banerjee Jyotirmay, Energy Procedia 75 (2015), Page No: 2125
2130
3. Experimental study of cold storage packages containing PCM
by Yoram Kozak, Mohammed Farid, Gennady Ziskind, Applied
Thermal Engineering 115 (2017), Page No: 899912.
4. Experimental study on charging and discharging periods of
water in a latent heat storage unit by Mahmet Akif Ezan,
Muhammet Ozdogan, Aytunc Erek, International Journal of
Thermal Sciences 50 (2011), Page No: 2205 2219.
5. Review on PCM for cold storage thermal energy storage
applications by E. Oro, A. Castell, M.M. Farid, Applied Energy
99 (2012), Page No: 513533.
 INTRODUCTION

The experimental setup consists of three major

portions
1. A Vapour Compression Refrigeration (VCR) Cycle.
2. A chamber consists of PCM inbuilt with evaporator
of VCR cycle.
3. A coil containing cold water which keeps the
temperature of PCM low.
The Compressor work load of VCR cycle is too
high if we go for 24*7 refrigeration.
 INTRODUCTION
To make the project overall economical, we can
employ appropriate PCM for the fraction of hours
meanwhile compressor is given rest, Latent Heat of
PCM will be responsible of generating required
cooling effect.
So that we can maintain the temperature in the
freezer around 4C to 8C which is ideal for fruits,
vegetables, chocolates and dairy products.
 LITERATURE REVIEW
S/N Authors & Years Title Contribution
Yoram Kozak, Experimental and Cold storage includes insulation and
1. Mohammed Farid, comprehensive PCM was investigated experimentally
Gennady Ziskind, theoretical study of and theoretically.
Applied Thermal cold storage packages Found the optimum ratio of insulation
Engineering 115 containing PCM. to PCM thickness to maximize the
(2017), Page No: melting time.
899912. Melting time depends upon PCM and
insulations thermal conductivity.

E. Oro, A. de. Gracia, Review on phase This journal deals with thermal energy
2. A. Cartell, M.M. change materials storage systems with PCM having
Farid, L.F, (PCM) for cold thermal melting point below 20C.
Applied Energy 99 energy storage So PCM having market exposure or
(2012), Page No: applications. are under research are examined based
513533. on their thermophysical properties,
encapsulation possibilities, heat transfer
enhancement and other applications of
PCM at low temperatures.
 LITERATURE REVIEW
S/N Authors & Years Title Contribution
Rathod Manish K., Development of Experimental analysis on LHSU filled
3. Banerjee Jyotirmay, correlation for melting with paraffin wax and steric acid is
Energy Procedia 75 time of phase change carried out.
(2015), Page No: materials (PCM) in A correlation is proposed in terms of
2125 2130. latent heat storage unit. Reynolds no. and Stefan no. to predict
dimensionless total melting time.
The radius of cylinder container is
optimized by considering thermal
diffusivity, specific heat and latent heat
available.
B. Rismanchi, R. Energy, exergy and In CTES , energy efficiency varies
4. Sadur, G. environmental analysis from 90% to 98% based on different
Boroumandjazi, S. of cold thermal energy system configuration.
Ahmed, storage system. Exergy efficiency is far less than
Renewable and energy efficiency with max. value of
Sustainable Energy below 20%.
Reviews 16 (2012), Exergetic evaluation provides a more
Page No: 57415746. realistic measure considering the
irreversibilities and potential
 LITERATURE REVIEW
S/N Authors & Years Title Contribution
Zhangbao Liu, Performance study on Using phase change materials can
5. Dongfeng Zhao, air cooled household guarantee that average temperature of
Qinghua Wang, refrigerator with cold the food in the compartment does not
Yuanying Chi, storage phase change exceed 8C.
Lingfei Zhang, material (PCM). The energy consumption of
International Journal refrigeration is reduced by 18.6% and
of Refrigeration 79 compressor ON time ratio is decreased
(2017), Page No: by 13.6% as compared to refrigerator
130142. without PCM.

Mahmet Akif Azan, Experimental study of Charging (solidification) and

6. Muhammet Ozdogan, charging and discharging (melting) periods of water
Aytunc Erek, discharging periods of are experimentally investigated.
International Journal water in a latent heat Influence of natural convection and
of Thermal Sciences storage unit. several design/ flow parameters on
50 (2011), Page No: charging and discharging process are
2205 2219. introduced.
Inlet temperature, thermal
conductivity governs discharging period
& inlet temperature governs charging.
 RESEARCH GAP
1. In all these journals, we can find the respective data
and the experimental analysis results of various
experiments which can be used for further
improvement of refrigeration systems using PCM.
2. It is expected that use of PCM could reduce the
power consumption and fraction of total ON time
of refrigerators can be reduced.
 PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
1. In order to achieve overall economical balance, we
have to select appropriate PCM or mixture of
PCMs which fulfills the criteria like required
melting point temperature, latent heat storage,
compatibility with the material of construction,
required thermophysical properties and lastly the
overall cost.
2. We have to find correlation in terms of
dimensionless numbers for the melting time and
solidification time of PCM.
 WORK TIMELINE
MONTH JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

LITERATURE
SURVEY

STUDY OF PCM AND

COOLING LOAD
CALCULATIONS

DATA COLLECTION
AND EXPERIMENTAL
SETUP
EXPERIMENTAL
STUDY AND
ANALYSIS OF PCM
UNDER REAL
ENVIRONMENT
REPORT
SUBMIT