Determining Q values, Heat of Fusion, andBuilding a One Tank Thermal Storage

System

Dustin MeauxLouise High School

Louise ISD

Faculty Mentor: Dr: Cable Kurwitz

Texas A&M University Nuclear EngineeringSpace Engineering Research Center and Interphase

Transport Phenomena Laboratory

Project BackgroundWhat are we doing? • The project is an attempt to add nanoparticles to various solids and

fluids to enhance the thermal properties• Based on previous work with nanoparticles and water. • This research is a combination of Mechanical and Nuclear

Engineering.

Why research is being done?• This project serves the Department of Energy, the National

Renewable Energy Lab, and any company or corporation with an interest in thermal storage and advanced material.

• Can lead to fewer materials in solar plants, which then transfers to cost efficiency.

• It can also offset cost of fossil fuels and hazards to the environment.

Heat exchanger

• Understanding Sensible heat • Understanding Latent heat of fusion• Understanding how a solar power plant

functions.– Understand how nanoparticles can asset the

functioning of power plants using heat transfer fluid.

– Replicate the functioning of a solar power plant at night

– Build a one tank, one fluid system and thermocline

Goals in the Classroom

• TEKS 4) A-D, 5) A-C, 12) A-C, 13) B&C

• TAKS Obj 1) 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 3A,

Obj 4) 7A, 7D, 7E, 8C, 9B, 9D

Obj 5) 4A, 6B, 6D

TEKS / TAKS

Overview of Classroom Activity

The classroom activity will be spread over 2 days, fit in the curriculum, be primarily lab based.

• Day 1– Pre-test– Background information into what engineers do– Background into what sensible and latent heat is. – Understand and practically apply equations to the lab information.

• Day 2– Use information from Day 1 and apply into the engineering of a heat

transfer system. – Understand the rigor and restrictions involved in a real world based

problem in the engineering field– Be practical and efficient

Part 1 – 15 minutes

Finding the “Q” Value – Understanding Sensible Heat (Heating with no phase change)

• Materials:– Stopwatch– Thermometer – Stirring rod– 250 mL beaker– Hotplate

• Procedure:– Heat water to 50 C periodically taking

measurements as the heat rises. – Chart information using an Excel graph

to find the “y” value– Multiply the ‘y” value by the specific

heat of water (4180 Joules / kg*degrees K) to find the “Q” value in Watts.

– This also calibrates machine, do not move dial. Unplug to turn off.

Part 2 – 20 minutes

Understanding Latent Heat of Fusion (hfg)

• Materials: – Stopwatch– Thermometer– Stirring rod– 250 mL beaker– Hotplate– Cube of ice– Scale/TBB

• Procedure: – Leave water from previous experiment

at 50 C– Mass the original pieces of ice and

record. – Place in water and start timer. – mass the ice every minute and record

until the ice is completely melted.– graph measurements– Now we are finding h(fg)

Lesson 1Sensible Heat and Latent Heat of Fusion

Water Lab 1

e

0

10

20

30

40

50

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

Time (sec)

Tem

pera

ture

(deg

rees

Ce

lciu

s) Series1

Linear (Series1)

Lesson 2 Build a Thermal Storage System

Students will demonstrate practical application in understanding conductivity, specific heat, efficiency, and cost effectiveness of thermal storage systems.

• Materials:– Thermometer– Stirring rod– 500 mL beaker– Hotplate– Scale/TBB– Copper tubing– Rubber tubing– Sesame oil or vegetable oil– Lead shot– Copper BB’s– Aluminum ?– Glass Marbles ?

• Procedures– Use copper tubing to build passage for

heat transfer fluid. • Must fit in 500 mL beaker

– Build your system to be as efficient and as inexpensive as possible• 500 mL limit on total tank volume• Materials cost specific amounts, you

have a $100 limit• Must use at least one extra material• Document what you use and its

quantities– Calculate flow rate– Calculate specific heat of the entire tank– Charge the system for 10 minutes only!

(1 day)– Attach cold water, take initial

measurements, and begin timer– Measure water return once a minute until

gets back to original temperature. – Measure final oil temperature– Calculate the sum of the Q value for the

temperature of the water. – Calculate energy in the system– The total output should be the same as the

energy stored in the system

Cold Water Supply

Pump

Flow Regulator

Outlet

Inlet

Pre- and Post- Test Questions

• What is sensible heat?• What is Latent Heat?• What is Heat of Fusion?• What is the equation to find heat energy in a system? • What is specific heat?• What is a thermocline?• Name two types of concentrating solar power plants. • What does HTF stand for?

AcknowledgmentsDr. Cable KurwitzDr. Mike SchullerDr. Frank Little

Dr. Deb BanerjeeMatt Bess

E3 Program – E3 StaffNational Science Foundation

Nuclear Power Institute Texas Workforce Commission

ChevronSpace Engineering Research Center

Interphase Transport Phenomena LaboratoryNational Renewable Energy Laboratory

Department of Energy