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The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of the material of the spherical capsule on the solidification characteristics of deionized water as the phase change material(PCM) filled with 90% of its fill volume. The experiment was performed with two same sized balls measuring 86mm diameter made of LDPE(Low density polyethylene) and Stainless Steel kept at distinct bath temperatures(-6,-9 and -12°C). It was noticed that the material of the spherical capsule had an influence on the solidification characteristics of the PCM. The Stainless Steel capsule froze significantly faster than the LDPE capsule for all the mass fractions. This effect was prominent in the lower mass fraction of 50%. It was also inferred that the percentage by which the Stainless Steel capsule froze faster than the LDPE capsule escalated by 32.63%, 40.90% and 43.18% at higher potential temperatures for 50% mass fraction.

This work investigates the solidification characteristics of deionized water in a stainless steel spherical capsule fitted with rectangular fins immersed in a constant temperature bath. Experiments are carried at three different bath temperatures (-6,-9, and -12°C). Four rectangular fins of size 20.6mm length, width 10.6 mm, and 1mm thick made of copper are fixed on the inner surface of the spherical capsule. Results indicated that fin had a significant reduction in total solidification time. A reduction of 13% in total solidification duration is achieved at -9 and -12°C. However a decrease of 87-90 % in freezing duration is observed while considering 50% of PCM mass at bath temperatures of -6°C,-9°C, and -12°C. It is concluded that fins can be employed in CTES systems at lower bath temperatures to achieve expected energy savings of 9-12% under the partial charging method.

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