Publication Date

1989

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Bushnell, David L.

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Physics

LCSH

Heat storage devices; Heat exchangers; Solar energy

Abstract

Developing the concept and an efficient design for storing solar energy for cooking purposes has been studied and pursued by Dr. David L. Bushnell. A new design of a solar-energy-storing heat exchanger using a phase change material, pentaerythritol, has been constructed for this purpose. This study concentrates on the performance of the heat exchanger by running experiments and measuring the efficiencies of the overall system as well as its individual components using independent techniques. These measurements have provided the data to guide design improvements. Presently, the heat exchanger holds temperatures between 380 and 340°F for 14 hours, and the heat exchanger’s efficiency is around 86%, while the overall system’s efficiency is near 60%. The new design has a larger surface- to-volume ratio and a more efficient heat-distribution piping construction which became apparent in a comparison of efficiency results between the new and old heat exchanger design. In addition, a glass replica was constructed and allowed further detailed analysis on how the heat exchanger performs.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references (leaf [44])

Extent

vii, [44] pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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