Melting behavior and heat transfer characteristics of water-insoluble material immersed in water

This paper presents the melting behavior and heat transfer characteristics of a water-insoluble material immersed in water. N-hexadecane, popularly used as a phase change material, is adopted as a waterinsoluble material. A rectangular n-hexadecane solid is placed vertically in the water. The melting behavior of n-hexadecane and its melting rate are then observed under a variety of water temperature conditions in the test vessel. An evaluation of the melting behavior and the local heat transfer coefficient indicates that the ambient water flow along the vertical n-hexadecane block enhances heat transfer at the upper side of the block as the ambient water temperature becomes lower. The upward flow of the melting liquid prevents the melting heat transfer at the upper part of the block as the ambient water temperature becomes higher. The variation of the shape of the top part of the block then changed and the heat transfer coefficient barely decreased when Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monooleate (Tween 80) was added in the water.