DefinePK

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental investigation on effects of corn oil to ice nucleation phenomenon of a corn oil - water solution immersed in a tank containing super-cooled liquid mixture of water and propylene glycol. Temperature of water and propylene glycol mixture was to be maintained as low as -20 °C. The corn oil-water solution is a new PCM candidate to be investigated for medium temperature refrigeration applications. Thermal energy storage characteristics of the PCM candidate were established and tested at various concentrations using a T-history method. Ice nucleation below freezing point in water/ice at temperatures ranging from -6 °C to -4 °C was induced by mixing corn oil with water to form an oil-water solution. As most of the solution consisted of water, this PCM became a strong candidate for under 0 °C applications. The PCM should be capable to maintain product temperatures of a medium temperature refrigeration system between -1 °C and +5 °C.