Publication Date

1998

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Bushnell, David L.

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Physics

LCSH

Heat storage; Phase transformations (Statistical physics); Solids--Thermal properties; Stoves; Electric; Neopentyl glycol

Abstract

The objective o f this study is to determine the bulk material phase change characteristics o f neopentyl glycol (NPG) and design and test an electric NPG heater with application characteristics needed for an economical incubator. The analysis included the use o f organic solid-to-solid phase change materials for consistent heat storage to be applied in an incubation oven. The primary material used for this research was neopentyl glycol. The solid-solid phase change materials were implemented since solid-liquid phase change materials have the containment problem o f sealing in the liquid and possible corrosion problems depending on the liquid used. The solid-solid phase change materials such as NPG and pentaglycerine (PG) have stable phase changes for this application as revealed by studies showing phase change stability for more than several hundred cycles with no observed deterioration. An incubation oven needs to be held at a normal body temperature o f 98.6 Fahrenheit (37 °C). NPG in some form was needed as it has the desirable characteristic o f a reported phase change temperature o f 40-43 ° C fairly close to the required 37° C. This report will focus on the phase change properties o f bulk NPG, the design and test o f an NPG-controlled electric heater, and discussion o f possible designs for full-scale incubators with this type of internal heater.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references (leaf [71])

Extent

x, 70, [1] 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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