Thermal Stratification Performance of a Packed Bed Latent Heat Storage System during Charging

¹ Department of Physics and Electronics, Private Bag, X2046, Mmabatho 2745, South Africa
² Department of Physics, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

Experimental thermal stratification evaluation of a packed bed latent heat storage is done during charging cycles. The packed bed latent heat storage system consists of adipic acid encapsulated in aluminum spheres. Sunflower oil is used as the heat transfer fluid during charging cycles. Stratification number profiles are used to evaluate thermal stratification in the storage system. Charging experiments are carried out with three different flow-rates (4 ml/s, 8 ml/s and 12 ml/s). Charging experiments are also done using the same flow-rate (8 ml/s) with three different set heater temperatures (220 °C, 240 °C and 260 °C). The lowest charging flow-rate (4 ml/s) shows the best variation of the stratification number profile since it shows the least drop from the peak value and the shortest charging interval. Different set heater temperatures show almost identical stratification number profiles. The effect of the charging flow-rate is more significant than the effect of the charging set heater temperature when evaluating thermal stratification for this particular system.