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Experimental and Numerical Analysis of a PCM-Supported ...

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large amount <strong>of</strong> energy to propel the air in the column. Packing <strong>of</strong> large size would<br />

be desired to reduce the pressure drop.<br />

Figure (7.3) shows the pressure drop <strong>of</strong> the gas mixture under different hot water<br />

mass flow rates. However, due to relatively big size <strong>of</strong> <strong>PCM</strong> spherical capsules<br />

considered in the study (i.e. the commercially available <strong>PCM</strong> spheres size) <strong>and</strong> low<br />

airflow velocity range commonly used in HDH cycles, the maximum pressure drop is<br />

approximately limited to 2 kPa for a particle diameter larger than or equal to 40mm,<br />

which represents only 2% <strong>of</strong> the ambient air pressure. The pressure drop increases<br />

considerably when the packing diameter decreases below 40mm. Thus the electric<br />

energy required to induce the air flow also increases, which represents a major<br />

problem in non-electrified areas <strong>of</strong> developing countries, where the electric energy<br />

may be supplied by PV panels. In addition, operating the system under high<br />

pressure drops requires more expensive <strong>and</strong> robust structure than that operating at<br />

nearly ambient conditions.<br />

Figure 7.3: Effect <strong>of</strong> packing size on the pressure drop <strong>of</strong> the gas<br />

The pressure drop is strongly dependent on air to water mass flow ratio. However,<br />

for a 1000 kg/h water mass flow rate, or water mass flux <strong>of</strong> 2.2 kg/m 2 .s <strong>and</strong> 75mm<br />

packing diameter, the pressure drop under natural convection is estimated from<br />

experimental data as 0.35 kPa, while it is around 0.5 kPa for the forced convection at<br />

air to water mass flow ratio <strong>of</strong> 0.3. For the 40mm diameter packing it is estimated to<br />

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