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

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Figure (7.17) <strong>and</strong> (7.18) demonstrate the effect <strong>of</strong> thermal conductivity at different<br />

cooling water mass flow rates <strong>and</strong> different inlet cooling water temperatures,<br />

respectively. The results show that the effect <strong>of</strong> thermal conductivity <strong>of</strong> <strong>PCM</strong> has a<br />

considerable effect on the condensation rate. This effect appears much stronger<br />

when its value is less than 2 [W/m/K], moderately between 2 <strong>and</strong> 10, <strong>and</strong> slightly<br />

above 10 for the given mass flow rate <strong>of</strong> air.<br />

Figure 7.17: Effect <strong>of</strong> <strong>PCM</strong> thermal conductivity on condensation rate<br />

under different cooling water mass flow rates<br />

7.3.7 Concluding remarks<br />

The present analysis indicated that water to air mass flow ratio is one <strong>of</strong> the most<br />

crucial operational parameters <strong>and</strong> its optimum value lies around 1.5. However, the<br />

thermal conductivity represents an important parameter that controls local heat <strong>and</strong><br />

mass transfer rates. The thermal conductivity <strong>of</strong> the packing media should not be<br />

less than 2W/m/K for better performance <strong>of</strong> the condenser. The study concluded<br />

that, conductive media with high thermal conductivity, smaller size, <strong>and</strong> lower cost<br />

would be the ideal c<strong>and</strong>idates for the present application, rather than <strong>PCM</strong> media<br />

that usually have poor thermal conductivity <strong>and</strong> high cost.<br />

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