The present work investigates the segregation of particles due to the motion of front of solidification in phase change materials (PCMs) and its dependence with shape and dimension factors adjustable by design. It is shown that for particle diameters <10 mm this kind of segregation is the dominant mechanism overcoming the gravitational settling. Utilizing a simplified geometrical model on from the solution of Stephan problem, an analytical expression for the dependence of segregation on such factors was derived. The results show that shape and dimension factors profoundly affect the segregation which implies that the particle segregation can be controlled in great extent through system modeling and design optimization.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	phase change material, colloidal suspension, surface energy, segregation
Research Division:	Engineering
Research Group:	Mechanical Engineering
Research Field:	Energy Generation, Conversion and Storage Engineering
Objective Division:	Energy
Objective Group:	Renewable Energy
Objective Field:	Solar-Thermal Energy
Author:	Arias, FJ (Dr Francisco Arias Montenegro)
Author:	Wang, X (Associate Professor Xiaolin Wang)
ID Code:	105520
Year Published:	2015
Web of Science® Times Cited:	3
Deposited By:	Engineering
Deposited On:	2016-01-06
Last Modified:	2016-05-25
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