Experimental investigation of the temperatures and performance of a commercial ice-storage tank

This paper presents the results of an experimental installation with an internal melt-ice-on-coil tank which has a total capacity of 172 kWh. The aim of this work is to analyse the freezing process in a tank with counter-current spiral-shaped coils immersed in around 1855l water. An experimental campaign has been performed with different inlet temperatures and mass flow rates of the heat transfer fluid. This study analyses (i) the chiller performance, (ii) the ice-formation process and (iii) the energy consumption of the installation. Supply temperatures between −2.5 °C and −5.2 °C have been sufficient to charge the tank without using any nucleating agents. The lowest energy consumption has been achieved for the fastest charging tests.

► Experimental analysis of an internal melt-ice-on-coil system. ► Temperature measurements of the phase-change material and of the heat transfer fluid. ► Charging tests with different mass flow rates and supply temperatures. ► Subcooling of around 3 K, lowest energy consumption for the fastest tests.