A study of the use of heat pipes in thermal storage for cooling

Thermal storage is a popular method of shifting cooling loads to off-peak regions. A new method of discharge is proposed via use of a group of heat pipes inserted in a cold storage tank filled with ice, initially frozen by a separate vapor-compression system. The latent heat of the ice assures circulation in the pipes and heat exchange between warm air and the tank for several hours at a time. An experiment has been conducted by using mixtures of ice and water as phase change material inside the tank. The system is exposed to inlet air at various states of temperature, humidity and varying velocity. The system provides cooling for over 8 hours, and correlations of the system are discussed.