Enhancement of cooling system performance of cold storage by using Salt, Glycol, and Methanol based Phase Changing Materials

Mechanical Engineering

One of the efforts to increase the efficiency of energy use, especially in cold storage applications, is by utilizing Phase Changing Material (PCM) in the cooling system. The application of PCM for efficiency energy is by utilizing its latent heat so that food products will remain cold at low temperatures as long as possible. In this study, a combination of conventional cooling systems was carried out using an insulate box in which PCM was added. The type of PCM used is a combination of 70% water added with salt, glycol, and methanol with variations for each sample, namely A1 (12% salt and 18% glycol), A2 (10% salt and 20% glycol), and A3 (8% salt and 20% glycol) as well as for samples B1 (12% salt and 18% methanol), B2 (10% salt and 20% methanol), and B3 (8% salt and 22% methanol). The simulation process is carried out by determining the operational temperature of the cooling system between -2 - 8 oC. Temperature measurement is carried out inside the coolbox using a type K thermocouple. The measurement process starts when the compressor starts (on mode) from room temperature until it reaches -2 oC and then stops (off mode) until the temperature reaches 8 oC. The temperature data was collected during 90 minutes of cooling system operation. From the analysis of the performance time of the cooling process and the total operating costs, optimal results were obtained for material A2 (glycol mixtures) and material B1 (methanol mixtures).

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