Effect of water based Al2O3 nanoparticle PCM on cool storage performance

• A water based nanofluid (50 nm Al2O3) PCM in charge process was experimentally studied.
• Experiments were conducted with NFPCM volumes fractions 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%.
• Charge time reduction at HTF temperature −10 °C was 32, 28, 22, 17 at flow rates of 12, 10, 8, 6 lpm.

A spherical capsule with water based Nanofluid (50 nm Al2O3) phase change material during charging process was studied experimentally. The experiments were conducted with pure water and the NFPCM with volumes fractions 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%. The results show that there is a significant effect of Nanoparticle concentration on thermal properties of PCM which sequentially reduces complete charging time for all HTF volume flow rates and also at different HTF inlet temperature. The percentage of reduction in complete charging time at HTF inlet temperature −12 °C attained approximately 32%, 28%, 18%, 12% at HTF volume flow rate of 12, 10, 8, 6 lpm respectively.