Discharge characteristics of capsule-type thermal energy storage unit using carbon-fiber/paraffin composite

Carbon fibers with a high thermal conductivity were used to enhance the the rmal conductivity of paraffin. Discharge characteristics of a capsule-type thermal energy storage unit using the carbon-fiber/paraffin composite was e xperimentally examined. The volume fraction of the carbon fibers was change d from zero to 2%. The experimental results demonstrate that carbon fibers essentially improve the discharge characteristics of the heat storage unit. A heat transfer model previously developed by one of the authors almost pr edicts the experimental results.