关键词: lauric acid;phase change material;thermal characteristics;melting process

Abstract: The objective of this study was to establish the thermal characteristics of the lauric acid
(95% purity) as a latent heat storage material filled in the annulus of vertical concentric
double pipe during its melting process. The temperature data were used to determine the
thermal characteristics, including the temporal temperature variations and the effects of
the mass flow rate and the inlet temperature of the heat transfer fluid on the heat
transfer coefficient and the heat charging fraction during the melting process. The results
indicated that the time to reach to heat charging fraction of 1.0 could be altered by
changing the mass flow rate and the inlet temperature of the heat transfer fluid.

Key words: lauric acid, phase change material, thermal characteristics, melting process