Thermal Energy Storage Demonstration Unit for Vuilleumier Cryogenic Cooler.
Abstract
This report covers the work performed under the Thermal Energy Storage Demonstration Unit Program. The report presents the analysis, design, fabrication, and testing of a thermal energy storage demonstration unit which was to be mated to an existing Vuilleumier cooler (AFLIR) to demonstrate the concept of powering such a device directly with stored thermal energy. The Thermal Energy Storage Demonstration Unit was to be sized for delivering 1000 watts thermal power for one hour at a temperature of 1250 + or - 25 F. The ternary eutectic 64 MgF2 - 30 LiF-6 KF, which has a eutectic temperature of 1310F, was selected as the thermal energy storage material. The report presents the approach and the assumptions underlying the design of the unit which incorporates a heat pipe for the transfer of energy from the thermal energy storage material to the hot cylinder of the Vuilleumier cooler. Details of the fabrication and the testing of the Thermal Energy Storage Demonstration Unit are presented. The analysis of the test data led to the conclusion that the basic design satisfied all requirements that were established for a TES unit. The thermal energy storage material, however, was found to apparently release its latent heat of fusion over a wider temperature range than had been anticipated. This fact can be attributed to nonisothermal phase transformation or a bulk thermal conductivity that is lower than had been assumed for the salt. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA040895
Entities
People
- Robert Richter
Organizations
- Xerox