• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.171-179
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• 1997

During the day time in summer, peak of air conditing load, and electric power management system lies under overloaded condition. The reason is the enlarged peak load value of electric power caused by increased air-cooling load in summer. To prevent load concentration during day time and overloaded condition of power management system, some energy storage methods are suggested. One of these methods is ice storage system. Water has some good properties as P.C.M.(Phase Chang Material) : Its melting point is the range of required operation temperature. It has large specific latent heat and is chemically stable compared to other organic or inorganic substances. It is cheap and easy to treat. This study represents experimental results of heat transfer characteristics of P.C.M. under the outward melting process in a vertical cylinder. We experimented with twelve combinations of conditions, i.e., three different inlet temperatures($7^{\circ}C,\;4^{\circ}C\;and\;1^{\circ}C$), two working fluid directions(upward and downward), and two aspect ratios, H/R(4 and 2). At the inlet temperature of $7^{\circ}C$ and $4^{\circ}C$, there was temperature stagnation region where the temperature of P.C.M. remains constant at $4^{\circ}C$ regardless of aspect ratio and direction of working fluid. This temperature stagnation occurs as the water, at its maximum density, flows down to the lower region. The phase change interface formed bell-shaped curve as the melting process continued. With a new set of conditions(4H/R, inlet temperature $4^{\circ}C$ and $1^{\circ}C$, downward/upwerd inlet direction), the movement of phase change interface was faster when the working flued inlet direction was downward. With the same set of conditions, melting rate and total melting energy were larger when the working fluid inlet direction was downward. The results were reversed when the other sets of conditions were applied.