IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v11y2018i8p2017-d161614.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

An Experimental Investigation of Thermal Characteristics of Phase Change Material Applied to Improve the Isothermal Operation of a Refrigerator

Author

Listed:
  • Seok-Joon Lee

    (Department of Mechanical System & Automotive Engineering, Graduate School of Chosun University, 303 Pilmum-Daero, Dong-gu, Gwangju 61452, Korea)

  • Seul-Hyun Park

    (School of Mechanical System & Automotive Engineering, Chosun University, 303 Pilmum-Daero, Dong-gu, Gwangju 61452, Korea)

Abstract

We investigated the thermal performance of a refrigerator with a functional duct unit (FDU) which was charged with a phase change material (PCM) and designed to replace the existing expandable polystyrene (EPS) duct unit. Since the performance of the FDU is dependent upon the thermal characteristics of the PCM, the eutectic water–salt solution as the PCM was prepared and tested to optimize the thermal characteristics. The thermal properties of the PCM were examined by the T-history method. When the PCM contained 1 wt.% eutectic molten salt compounds, the phase change temperature was approximately −0.5 °C, the supercooling temperature was approximately −2.9 °C, and the latent heat was 304.9 kJ/kg. Compared with other PCMs of different eutectic molten salt concentrations, this PCM was found to have the most appropriate thermal properties for the FDU. Therefore, the PCM with 1 wt.% eutectic molten salt compounds was used in the FDU, which was installed in a 200 L top-mounted freezer (TMF). For a quantitative comparison of the operational performance, an FDU and an EPS duct were installed alternately in a refrigerator operated under the same conditions and analyzed in terms of internal temperature variation and operational characteristics. When the EPS duct was replaced by the FDU, the temperature deviation measured during a defrosting operation was observed to become smaller. Moreover, during a power outage, the refrigerator with the FDU released heat owing to the phase change of the PCM, thereby preventing temperature rise inside the refrigerator.

Suggested Citation

  • Seok-Joon Lee & Seul-Hyun Park, 2018. "An Experimental Investigation of Thermal Characteristics of Phase Change Material Applied to Improve the Isothermal Operation of a Refrigerator," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-14, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:8:p:2017-:d:161614
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/8/2017/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/8/2017/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cheng, Wen-Long & Mei, Bao-Jun & Liu, Yi-Ning & Huang, Yong-Hua & Yuan, Xu-Dong, 2011. "A novel household refrigerator with shape-stabilized PCM (Phase Change Material) heat storage condensers: An experimental investigation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(10), pages 5797-5804.
    2. Juan Zhao & Yasheng Ji & Yanping Yuan & Zhaoli Zhang & Jun Lu, 2018. "Energy-Saving Analysis of Solar Heating System with PCM Storage Tank," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-18, January.
    3. Maria Gabriela De Paola & Natale Arcuri & Vincenza Calabrò & Marilena De Simone, 2017. "Thermal and Stability Investigation of Phase Change Material Dispersions for Thermal Energy Storage by T-History and Optical Methods," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-15, March.
    4. Tyagi, Vineet Veer & Buddhi, D., 2007. "PCM thermal storage in buildings: A state of art," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 11(6), pages 1146-1166, August.
    5. Domenico Mazzeo & Giuseppe Oliveti & Natale Arcuri, 2017. "A Method for Thermal Dimensioning and for Energy Behavior Evaluation of a Building Envelope PCM Layer by Using the Characteristic Days," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-19, May.
    6. Sharma, Atul & Tyagi, V.V. & Chen, C.R. & Buddhi, D., 2009. "Review on thermal energy storage with phase change materials and applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(2), pages 318-345, February.
    7. Idris Al Siyabi & Sourav Khanna & Tapas Mallick & Senthilarasu Sundaram, 2018. "Multiple Phase Change Material (PCM) Configuration for PCM-Based Heat Sinks—An Experimental Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-14, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yi Zhang & Hongzhi Cui & Waiching Tang & Guochen Sang & Hong Wu, 2017. "Effect of Summer Ventilation on the Thermal Performance and Energy Efficiency of Buildings Utilizing Phase Change Materials," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-17, August.
    2. Dutil, Yvan & Rousse, Daniel R. & Salah, Nizar Ben & Lassue, Stéphane & Zalewski, Laurent, 2011. "A review on phase-change materials: Mathematical modeling and simulations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 112-130, January.
    3. Bąk, Agnieszka & Pławecka, Kinga & Bazan, Patrycja & Łach, Michał, 2023. "Influence of the addition of phase change materials on thermal insulation properties of foamed geopolymer structures based on fly ash," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    4. Zhou, D. & Zhao, C.Y. & Tian, Y., 2012. "Review on thermal energy storage with phase change materials (PCMs) in building applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 593-605.
    5. Waqas, Adeel & Ud Din, Zia, 2013. "Phase change material (PCM) storage for free cooling of buildings—A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 18(C), pages 607-625.
    6. Arteconi, A. & Hewitt, N.J. & Polonara, F., 2012. "State of the art of thermal storage for demand-side management," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 371-389.
    7. Xu, H.J. & Zhao, C.Y., 2015. "Thermodynamic analysis and optimization of cascaded latent heat storage system for energy efficient utilization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(P2), pages 1662-1673.
    8. Pinel, Patrice & Cruickshank, Cynthia A. & Beausoleil-Morrison, Ian & Wills, Adam, 2011. "A review of available methods for seasonal storage of solar thermal energy in residential applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(7), pages 3341-3359, September.
    9. Cabeza, L.F. & Castell, A. & Barreneche, C. & de Gracia, A. & Fernández, A.I., 2011. "Materials used as PCM in thermal energy storage in buildings: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(3), pages 1675-1695, April.
    10. Giro-Paloma, Jessica & Barreneche, Camila & Martínez, Mònica & Šumiga, Boštjan & Fernández, Ana Inés & Cabeza, Luisa F., 2016. "Mechanical response evaluation of microcapsules from different slurries," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 732-739.
    11. Fabrizio, Enrico & Seguro, Federico & Filippi, Marco, 2014. "Integrated HVAC and DHW production systems for Zero Energy Buildings," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 515-541.
    12. Zeng, Cheng & Liu, Shuli & Shukla, Ashish, 2017. "Adaptability research on phase change materials based technologies in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 145-158.
    13. Arias, I. & Cardemil, J. & Zarza, E. & Valenzuela, L. & Escobar, R., 2022. "Latest developments, assessments and research trends for next generation of concentrated solar power plants using liquid heat transfer fluids," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    14. Dong, Jiankai & Chen, Zhihua & Zhang, Long & Cheng, Yuanda & Sun, Suyuting & Jie, Jia, 2019. "Experimental investigation on the heating performance of a novel designed trombe wall," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 728-736.
    15. Amaral, C. & Vicente, R. & Marques, P.A.A.P. & Barros-Timmons, A., 2017. "Phase change materials and carbon nanostructures for thermal energy storage: A literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 1212-1228.
    16. Anisur, M.R. & Mahfuz, M.H. & Kibria, M.A. & Saidur, R. & Metselaar, I.H.S.C. & Mahlia, T.M.I., 2013. "Curbing global warming with phase change materials for energy storage," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 18(C), pages 23-30.
    17. Giro-Paloma, Jessica & Martínez, Mònica & Cabeza, Luisa F. & Fernández, A. Inés, 2016. "Types, methods, techniques, and applications for microencapsulated phase change materials (MPCM): A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 1059-1075.
    18. AL-Saadi, Saleh Nasser & Zhai, Zhiqiang (John), 2013. "Modeling phase change materials embedded in building enclosure: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 21(C), pages 659-673.
    19. Saadatian, Omidreza & Sopian, K. & Lim, C.H. & Asim, Nilofar & Sulaiman, M.Y., 2012. "Trombe walls: A review of opportunities and challenges in research and development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(8), pages 6340-6351.
    20. Wu, Shuangmao & Fang, Guiyin & Liu, Xu, 2011. "Dynamic discharging characteristics simulation on solar heat storage system with spherical capsules using paraffin as heat storage material," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(4), pages 1190-1195.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:8:p:2017-:d:161614. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.