DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF ALTERNATE ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE USING PCM

Inventors: Sudeep Kumar Singh, Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, Amity School of
Engineering and Technology, New Delhi, India; Mujassam khan, Mechanical and Automation
Engineering, Amity School of Engineering and Technology, New Delhi, India; Zobair Alam, Mechanical
and Automation Engineering, Amity School of Engineering and Technology, New Delhi, India; Anshu
Majumder, Mechanical and Automation Engineering, Amity School of Engineering and Technology,
New Delhi, India;Md Aadil Mechanical and Automation Engineering, Amity School of Engineering and
Technology, New Delhi, India;Nitin Ratan Mechanical and Automation Engineering, Amity School of
Engineering and Technology, New Delhi, India.
Assignee: Amity School of Engineering and Technology, New Delhi, India

Abstract: The continuous increase in the level of greenhouse gas emissions and the increase in fuel prices are the
main driving forces behind efforts to more effectively utilize various sources of renewable energy. In many parts of
the world, direct solar radiation is considered to be one of the most prospective sources of energy. One of the options
is to develop energy storage devices, which are as important as developing new sources of energy. The storage of
energy in suitable forms, which can conventionally be converted into the required form, is a present day challenge to
the technologists.
The use of a latent heat storage system using phase change materials is an effective way of storing thermal energy.
In this project a PCM based tube in shell heat exchanger is designed and fabricated. The project focuses on the
temperature distribution pattern of the phase change material during the process of charging and discharging the results
are obtained by experimentally .Paraffin wax has been used as the phase change material. This type of thermal energy
storage system can be used as a medium to store energy and can be used further

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention: The present invention relates to development of alternate energy storage device . More
particularly, by the help of this invention we are able to store thermal energy with the help of Phase Change Material
and this store energy can be reuse for various pupose

2. Basic Concept: When a thermal storage need occurs, there are three main physical principles to provide a thermal
energy function.
Sensible heat:- The storage is based on the temperature change in the material and the unit storage capacity [J/g] is
equal to heat capacitance × temperature change.
Phase-change:- If the material changes its phase at a certain temperature while heating the substance then heat is
stored in the phase change. Reversing, heat is dissipated when at the phase 1 change temperature it is cooled back.
The storage capacity of the phase change materials is equal to the phase change enthalpy at the phase change
temperature sensible heat stored over the whole temperature range of the storage.
Chemical reactions:- The sorption or thermo chemical reactions provide thermal storage capacity. The basic principle
is: AB + heat ⇔ A+B; using heat a compound AB is broken into components A and B which can be stored separately;
bringing A and B together AB is formed and heat is released. The storage capacity is the heat of reaction or free energy
of the reaction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A phase change material (PCM) is a substance with a high heat of fusion which, melting and solidifying at a
certain temperature, is capable of storing and releasing large amounts of energy. Heat is absorbed or released when
the material changes from solid to liquid and vice versa; thus, PCMs are classified as latent heat storage (LHS) units.
Three types of phase changes can happen in a material, solid liquid phase change, solid gas phase change, liquid gas
phase change. Generally solid gas phase change and liquid gas phase change involve large amount of volume change,
hence solid liquid phase change is the most preferred mode of latent heat storage. Sharma, A. et al (2009), established
that the use of a latent heat storage system using phase change materials (PCMs) is an effective way of storing thermal
energy and has the advantages of high-energy storage density and the isothermal nature of the storage process. PCMs
have been widely used in latent heat thermal storage systems for heat pumps, solar engineering, and spacecraft thermal
control applications. There are large numbers of PCMs that melt and solidify at a wide range of temperatures, making
them attractive in a number of applications.
Demirbas, M. F. (2006), reported that, the storage of thermal energy in the form of sensible and latent heat
has become an important aspect of energy management with the emphasis on efficient use and conservation of the
waste heat and solar energy in industry and buildings.
Latent heat storage is one of the most efficient ways of storing thermal energy. Solar energy is a renewable energy
source that can generate electricity, provide hot water, heat and cool a house, and provide lighting for buildings.
Paraffin waxes are cheap and have moderate thermal energy storage density but low thermal conductivity and, hence,
require a large surface area. Hydrated salts have a larger energy storage density and a higher thermal conductivity. In
response to increasing electrical energy costs and the desire for better lad management, thermal storage technology
has recently been developed. The storage of thermal energy in the form of sensible and latent heat has become an
important aspect of energy management with the emphasis on the efficient use and conservation of the waste heat and
solar energy in the industry and buildings. Thermal storage has been characterized as a kind of thermal battery.
Jesumathy, S.P. et al (2012), designed an energy storage system to study the heat transfer characteristics of
paraffin wax during melting and solidification processes in a vertical annulus energy storage system. In the
experimental study, three important issues are focused. The first one is temperature distribution in the phase change
material (PCM) during the phase change processes. The second one is the thermal characteristics of the paraffin wax,
which includes total melting and total solidification times, the nature of heat transfer phenomena in melted and
solidified PCM and the effect of Reynolds number as inlet heat transfer fluid (HTF) conditions on the heat transfer
parameters. The final one is to calculate heat transfer coefficient and effectiveness during solidification process. The
experimental results proved that the PCM melts and solidifies congruently, and the melting front moved from the top
to the bottom of the PCM container whereas the solidification front moved from bottom to the top along the axial
distances in the PCM container. Time- based variations of the temperature distributions were explained from the
results of observations of melting and solidification curves. Charging and discharging processes were carried out. Heat
transfer characteristics were studied
Trp, A. (2005), studied the thermal energy storage system of the shell and tube type heat exchanger during charging
and discharging. An experimental and numerical investigation of transient forced convective heat transfer between
the heat transfer fluid (HTF) with moderate Prandtl numbers and the tube wall, heat conduction through the wall and
solid–liquid phase change of the phase change material (PCM), based on the enthalpy formulation, has been presented.
A fully implicit two-dimensional control volume FORTRAN computer code, with algorithm for non-isothermal phase
transition, has been developed for the solution of the corresponding mathematical model. The comparison between
numerical predictions and experimental data shows good agreement for both paraffin non-isothermal melting and
isothermal solidification.
Akgun, M. et al (2008), in their study, analysed Thermal energy storage performance of paraffin in a novel
tube-in-shell system. A novel design for the storage unit whose geometry is consistent with the melting/solidification
characteristics of phase change materials (PCMs) is introduced. Three kinds of paraffin with different melting
temperatures are used as PCMs. Water is used as the heat transfer fluid (HTF). At first, the thermo-physical properties
of the paraffin used are determined through the differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) analysis. The effects of the
Reynolds number and the Stefan number on the melting and solidification behaviours are determined. It is disclosed
the novel tube-in-shell storage geometry introduced in this study suggests promising results.
Brian James and Paul Delaney (2012), investigated current PCM market trends and assess their future
potential application in commercial buildings. The goal is to determine their efficacy in peak demand reduction and
energy savings. Discussions with PCM manufacturers provided a better understanding of the technical potential and
current market availability of PCM products. Evaluation of PCM products for certain applications determined their
energy-efficiency potential. Comparisons were drawn to determine mass equivalents between PCM and conventional
thermal mass, such as stone, concrete, and brick. In addition, temperature and sensible cooling profiles were developed
for a prototypical building based on energy simulations using EnergyPlus. Next, it was determined which climate
zones were most appropriate for PCM installations. This was based on the day-to-night temperature variation required
to regenerate a phase change.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1: This figure is a part of our project and in this a outline of inside view.
FIG. 2: This figure is a part of our project and in this is a outside view of storage device.
FIG. 3: This figure is a part of our project and in this a single energy storage unit.
FIG. 4: This figure is a part of our project and in this figure is a storage tank
FIG. 5: This figure is a part of our project and in this figure is a water pump
FIG. 6: This figure is a part of our project and in this figure is a valve.
FIG .7: This figure is a part of our project and in this figure is of paraffin wax.
FIG. 8: This is picture copper tube.
FIG. 9: This figure is a part of our project and in this figure is a connecting pipes
FIG:10 This figure is a part of our project and in this figure atmospheric temperature measuring thermometer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Firstly A tube in shell type heat exchanger is chosen for the simplest choice of heat exchanger.
The tube in shell type is made of PVC of larger diameter in which copper tubes of smaller diameter are inserted. Three
copper tubes of smaller diameter are inserted in the PVC pipe concentrically
In the remaining space between the PVC pipe and copper tube Phase Change Materials (usually Paraffin wax is
incorporated Incorporation of phase change material is also easy in this type of exchanger. The phase change material
is incorporated in the outer shell of the heat exchanger and the heat transfer fluid (HTF), which is water in this case,
flows from the inner tube. Inlet and outlet path are made at the both ends of pvc pipe with the help of pipes of smaller
diameter. The water through the heat exchanger is driven through a electric motor during charging and dischargin g
.

Dimension of cabin

Table. Dimensions

Amount of heat energy to be stored

During winter season, the average temperature at which the water is available in the tanks is around 15-20 oC.
Temperature of water required for comfortable bathing during winter season is around 40 oC. Hence the amount of
temperature difference we need to attain for comfortable bathing is 20-25oC.

Initial temperature of water Ti = 20oC

Final (desired) temperature of water Tf = 40oC

Tf – Ti = 20oC

Heat capacity of water, Cv = 4.187 kJ/kg

Hence, amount of heat required to carry out the above transition = Q

Q = mwater x (Tf – Ti) x Cv

i.e. Q = 10 x 20 x 4.187 = 836 kJ

Hence, amount of energy needs to be stored = 836 kJ

Estimation of amount of PCM

The amount of PCM to be incorporated in estimated as follows: Amount of

energy to be stored = Q = 836 kJ
Hence mass of PCM to be incorporated = Q/(Latent heat) = 836/206 = 4.0582 kg. Hence approximately
4 kg of PCM needs to be incorporated in the heat exchanger.

Calculation of dimensional parameters of heat exchanger

we can see that number of energy storage units to be used = n = 3 Length of each energy storage unit = 0.5 m.
Mass of PCM in each unit = mpcm/n
i.e. mpcm/unit = 4.058/3 = 1.352 kg
Volume of PCM to be used = mpcm/unit x ῥ
i.e. Vpcm = 1.325 x 789 = 0.00092002 m3
Hence, the cross sectional area of outer portion of heat exchanger
A2 = V/L = 0.00092002/0.5 = 0.00184005 m2 = 18.4 cm2
Assuming a suitable diameter for the internal pipe.
We select a standard diameter of copper pipe = 1.4 cm
Hence, cross sectional area of the internal pipe = A1 = 1.5393 cm2
Total cross sectional area of the Heat Exchanger unit = A1 + A2
i.e. A = A1 + A2 = 1.5393+18.4 = 19.939 cm2
Hence, the internal diameter of outer pipe = ¼ x ((A1+A2)/π)1/2 = 5.038 cm = 2”

WORKING

Energy storage unit

During sunshine period, valve 1 is kept open and valve 2 is kept closed.
The cold water from the storage tank goes through the flat plate solar collector, absorbing heat energy from the solar
radiations.It then passes through the PCM heat exchanger, where it loses its heat to the phase change material.It then
goes back to the storage tank. In this way, the PCM gains heat energy which will then be used to heat water during
non-sunshine period.During non-sunshine period, valve 1 is kept closed and valve 2 is kept open.
The cold water from the storage tank goes through the PCM heat exchanger, absorbing heat energy from the heat
stored in the phase change material. It then goes back to the storage tank. By this way cold water is heated with the
help of heat stored in the PCM.

RESULT
In this project, we find some result for which we worked on it. Some observed results are given below:
 Selection of paraffin as energy storage material is justified.
 The temperature variation is observed during charging and discharging at the interval of 2 minutes during
duration of 60 minutes
 Objective of the project of designing alternate energy storage device using Phase Change Material (Paraffin
wax)is achieved.
DRAWINGS
Container

Single energy storage unit

Figure 1

Figure 2 figure 3 figure 4

figure 5 figure 6 figure 7 figure 8

Fig.8 Fig.9