Spiral phase-change material for enhancing natural circulation solar water heater: An experimental study |
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Authors: | G Murali K Mayilsamy |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Adhiyamaan College of Engineering, Hosur, Tamil Nadu, India;2. Institute of Road and Transport Technology, Erode, Tamil Nadu, India |
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Abstract: | This article studies the use of spiral phase-change material as an energy storage to improve the performance of a domestic solar water heater. The heating and cooling tests have been conducted for the vertical and horizontal position of the phase-change material in the water heater tank. The vertical position phase-change material yields better results than horizontal position. The charging energy and system thermal efficiencies of the tank are increased up to 20% and 12%, respectively, when the phase-change material is kept vertically. Also, it is observed that better heat transfer coefficient between water and phase-change material and upgraded thermal stratification during the cooling tests. |
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Keywords: | phase-change material solar water heater stratification charging energy efficiency system thermal efficiency |
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