Abstract
Microencapsulated PCM particles are mixed with distilled water and utilized to evaluate its characteristics and performance as a thermal storage medium transporting heat. For the present study, tetradecane(C$_14H_30, T_m=5.5^{\circ}C$) is capsulated in the core with the melamine of its surface. The size of particles is well-controlled under 10${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in the way of in-situ polymerization with melamine-formaldehyde resin. For the experiment, the concentrations of slurries are prepared for 20wt%, 30wt%, and 40wt%. The results are compared with those of water and 100% tetradecane oil. The pure water and tetradecane start solidifying within 20 minutes after introducing cooling water into the thermal storage tank whose tank whose flow rates are varied by 125cc/min, 250cc/min, and 500cc/min. However, MicroPCM slurries are required relatively longer period of time for their phase change than pure phase change materials. That is, the entrained MicroPCM particles control its heat transfer in terms of natural convection and conducting to them.