• Solar Energy
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.28-36
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• 1992

The performance of a latent heat storage system using a thermosyphon as the heat transfer device between the heat source and the phase change material was investigated experimentally. In order to increase the effective conductivity of the phase change material, layers of copper wire mesh were immersed in the paraffin wax(Sunoco P-116) in such a way that they also may be considered as fins of the thermosyphon. The important results are as follows : (1) The void space of the wire mesh allowed the convection to occur, thus enhanced the performance of the system : (2) The increase of the number of layer of wire mesh increased the conduction heat transfer. However, it also had adverse effect of subduing convective motion of liquid wax : and (3) Overall heat transfer coefficient and thermosyphon conductance increased with the increase of the number of layer of wire mesh, whereas the heat transfer coefficient between the thermosyphon and the wax decreased.