Developing a Cold Accumulator with a Capsule Bed Containing Water as a Phase-Change Material

The paper presents the investigation of a prototype cold accumulator using water–ice latent heat for storage process. concept was based on 200-L-capacity cylindrical tank in which spherical capsules filled with water were placed. Beds polypropylene diameters 80 mm, 70 and 60 mm used tests. operated water–air pump. Based test results, following parameters calculated: cooling capacity, power, energy efficiency storage, ratio (EER) accumulator. obtained measurement results described mathematical relationships (allowing error) criterial numbers developed “Research Stand Factor Number” (RSFN) index. It has been found that, under investigation, maximum values capacity (17 kWh or 85.3 per cubic meter accumulator), (0.99), EER (4.8) occur an RSFN 144·10?4. optimal conditions operation closest to laboratory tests conducted bed diameter mass flow water–glycol mixture flowing between pump 0.084 kg/s. During tests, no significant problems found.