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Modeling Cyclic Phase Change and Energy Storage in Solar Heat ReceiversNumerical results pertaining to cyclic melting and freezing of an encapsulated phase change material (PCM), integrated into a solar heat receiver, have been reported. The cyclic nature of the present melt/freeze problem is relevant to latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) systems used to power solar Brayton engines in microgravity environments. Specifically, a physical and numerical model of the solar heat receiver component of NASA Lewis Research Center's Ground Test Demonstration (GTD) project was developed and results compared with available experimental data. Multi-conjugate effects such as the convective fluid flow of a low-Prandtl-number fluid, coupled with thermal conduction in the phase change material, containment tube and working fluid conduit were accounted for in the model. A single-band thermal radiation model was also included to quantify reradiative energy exchange inside the receiver and losses through the aperture. The eutectic LiF-CaF2 was used as the phase change material (PCM) and a mixture of He/Xe was used as the working fluid coolant. A modified version of the computer code HOTTube was used to generate results for comparisons with GTD data for both the subcooled and two-phase regimes. While qualitative trends were in close agreement for the balanced orbit modes, excellent quantitative agreement was observed for steady-state modes.
Document ID
19970025060
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Hall, Carsie A., III (Howard Univ. Washington, DC United States)
Glakpe, Emmanuel K. (Howard Univ. Washington, DC United States)
Cannon, Joseph N. (Howard Univ. Washington, DC United States)
Kerslake, Thomas W. (NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 1997
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.15:107487
NASA-TM-107487
AIAA Paper 97-2452
E-10783
Report Number: NAS 1.15:107487
Report Number: NASA-TM-107487
Report Number: AIAA Paper 97-2452
Report Number: E-10783
Meeting Information
Meeting: Thermodynamics
Location: Atlanta, GA
Country: United States
Start Date: June 23, 1997
End Date: June 25, 1997
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Accession Number
97N24712
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 547-10-41
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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