Transport of cold thermal energy with a slurry as secondary biphasic refrigerant

A dispersion of phase-change materials is proposed as an experimental bipha sic refrigerant. The phase-change material is water stabilized by a tri-dim ensional network of polymer, obtained by using a polymerizing process. The particle contains 90 per cent of water and has the consistency of a viscoel astic solid above the phase-change temperature. The measured values of the physical properties of the biphasic refrigerant, that is, specific heat, la tent heat, density and viscosity, are presented and discussed for the consi dered temperature range. A supercooling phenomena is observed if the size o f the particles becomes lower than 1 mm. The degree of supercooling however does not exceed 3 degreesC. The various advantages of this slurry are pres ented and the comparison with a common single-phase carrier fluid has prove d how great its properties are as a secondary refrigerant. This material ap pears well adapted for a wide variety of schemes where the production invol ves low-temperature intervals, such as the refrigeration industry. Copyrigh t (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.