Comparison of freezing characteristics of phasechange material in metallic and low density polyethylene spherical capsules

Abstract

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.