Experimental investigation of Paraffin Wax as phase change
material in Thermal Energy Storage System
Harsh Dubey, Gurmeet Dorjai, Mohd. Ayub Basharat, Neha Saini
Abstract- We conducted a series of experiment to
investigate the behavior and performance of
Paraffin wax as phase change material during
charging, storing and discharging period. Our aim
was to gain insights into the factors that influence
the performance of Thermal Heat Storage System
and to optimize its design and operation for various
application in the energy storage system.
In the first experiment we analyzed the PCM
temperature with time and efficiency of heat
transfer with time. We found that with time as the
temperature of the PCM increases up to its melting
point, efficiency decreases. These findings have
important practical implications for the design and
optimization of thermal heat storage system, as
they suggest reduced energy availability and
increased operating cost. In the second experiment
which was conducted during storing period of the
PCM, it was found that average temperature of the
PCM first increases, even though the supply of heat
transfer fluid (water in this case) was stopped,
became constant and then started to decrease. It
suggests that thermal heat storage system may
experience heat loss during the storing period and
thus requires optimum insulation. We conducted
our third and the final experiment during the
discharging period. As per the observation, the
PCM temperature decreased with time,
consequently decreasing the system efficiency.
In Conclusion, our experiment provide valuable
insight into the behavior and performance of
Thermal Storage System during several stages of
the operation.
I. INTRODUCTION
Continuous use of fossil fuel at high extent due to
increased human energy consumption has led us to
the fear of its depletion and use of renewable
energy has come up with the most promising
solution to overcome this problem and face global
warming. One of the most clean and abundant
source of energy is solar energy. There are various
challenges related to its availability. As during
winters it is weak and completely absent during
night. This intermittent availability of solar
radiation between day and night and between
seasons contributes to the gap between demand and
supply making Thermal Energy Storage a useful
tool to fill this void and enhance overall
reliability[1]. A schematic of power generation
using thermal heat storage system is shown in Fig.
1.
TES can be usefull for daily purpose such as storing
heat during sunshine for later use as well absorbing
energy during summers and using it during winters.
Energy stored van be either sensible related to the
change in temperature or latent related to the
change phase between solid, liquid and gas.
We conducted a series of experiment to investigate
the behavior and performance of Paraffin wax as
phase change material during charging, storing and
discharging period. Our aim was to gain
 Fig.1:- Energy generation using thermal heat storage.

insights into the factors that influence the of inorganic PCMs are inorganic compound
performance of Thermal Heat Storage System and hydrates. Because of their high latent heat storage
to optimize its design and operation for various density, they are significant players in heat storage.
application in the energy storage system. The Utilizing several PCMs at once can boost the
experiments were conducted in a laboratory setting, storage system's adaptability and efficiency in heat
and the results were analysed to draw conclusions storage[2].
about the performance of TES. Another factor that affects the performance of TES
is the mass flow rate of PCM. The results show that
One of the most investigated and broadly used
dynamic mass flow rates can lead to a thermal
mediums in the solar thermal storage systems is
efficiency reduction between 0.5 % and 5 % with
using phase change materials. PCM is widely used
respect to static conditions. Controlling the air
as heat storage material because of the advantages
mass flow rate could be an efficient strategy to
that it provides such as high heat storage density,
stabilize the thermal power output during the
high efficiency, easy process control, and stable
discharge[3].
temperature during heat storage/release process.
In this study we conducted experiments to study
PCM can be divided into different categories
performance of paraffin wax as phase change
depending upon forms of phase change. They are
material. Energy storage integration offers several
generally categorized as organic material,
benefits, such as:
inorganic materials and composite materials. Fatty
Smoothing Energy Output: Solar power plants can
acids and paraffin wax are the two main
deliver a more consistent and predictable power
components of organic PCMs. Industrial paraffin is
output to the grid by storing excess energy.
inexpensive, has a high melting point, and is useful
Load Shifting: Stored energy can be dispatched
over a broad temperature range. Industrial paraffin
during peak demand periods, reducing strain on the
is therefore one of the PCMs that is used the most
grid and optimizing electricity prices.
frequently. Although fatty acid is more expensive
Grid Stability: Energy storage systems can provide
than paraffin and has a higher melting calorific
grid services like frequency regulation and voltage
value than it does, this prevents fatty acid from
support, enhancing overall grid stability.
being used in practical applications. The majority
Microgrid Applications: Energy storage enables 3. Thermocouple: - 16 K-type thermocouple were
solar power plants to operate independently as used to measure temperature at different positions.
microgrids, enhancing energy security and
4. Valve:- Ball type two way valves were used to
resilience [4],[5].
regulate flow of HTF and PCM.
II. EXPERIMENTAL METHOD
5. Water Heater:- 2 water heaters of 1000W power
A. Experimental set-up
each were used to heat the HTF.
The set-up of the experiment is shown in Fig. 2.
6. Chiller: - Chiller of 1 Ton with temperature least
The description of various components is provided
count of 0.1°C was used to cool down the HTF for
as under.
discharging period.

7. Pump Unit:- Two pumps of rating 140W(0.18hp)

with the discharge rate of 30 LPM and maximum
discharge head of 9 meters was used for hot and
cold fluid flow was used.

B. Experimental procedure & observations

We divided whole TES system into three parts i.e.
charging, storing and discharging period.

1. To analyse the performance of TES system

during charging period.

1.1 Connections:- The connections for this

Figure 2:-TES lab set up. experiment were made according to the diagram
shown in Fig.3.
1. Hot Water Tank:- It is used to store the heat
transfer fluid (water is used in experiment). It is
well insulated to keep the heat loss to minimum.
Typical HTFs used in plants are thermal oils, water,
supercritical CO2 gas, and air. Water has thermal
capacity of 4189 J/KgdegC. It has a capacity of
90L.

2. Used HTF and Cold storage tank: - Both are

stored in the container of capacity 125L each. Used
HTF tank is used so that HTF does not freeze in
paraffin wax cylinder and block the passage for
further use. Cold water tank is used to store the Fig.3:- Schematic diagram for connections
buffer water which is used during discharging.
1.2 Experimental Procedure: - Firstly, we filled the
HTF storage tank fully by switching on the pump.
The water was heated in the hot water tank using
electric heaters. We observed the temperature
continuously. When the HTF reached the
temperature of 90 ºC then it was passed through
paraffin wax cylinder where phase change take
place. We continuously measured temperatures Ts,
Table 1:- Observations for charging period
2. To analyse the performance of TES system
during storing period.
2.1. Connections:- The connections for this
experiment were made according to the diagram
shown in Fig.3.
2.2 Experimental Procedure:- We stopped the
supply of HTF to the paraffin wax and observed
PCM cylinder front and rear end temperature.
2.3 Observations:- We took the readings as in Table
2.
Tb1, Tb2, Tb3, Tb4 and Ta in a step of minute. The
process was continued until paraffin wax reached
the melting temperature. On completing the
charging process open valve number 13,14 and
empty the HTF hot/ cold source tank completely.
1.3 Observations:-
We took the readings as in TABLE 1.
3. To analyse the performance of TES system
during discharging period.
3.1. Connections:- The connections for this
experiment were made according to the diagram
shown in Fig.3.
3.2 Experimental Procedure:- To start the
discharging procedure we filled the HTF hot/cold
source tank fully with the help of the pump. Then
with the help of the ‘chiller we cooled down the
HTF hot/cold source tank water to 10 ºC. Then we
passed the cold water from the chiller to the PCM
cylinder. Flow was adjusted using the valves. We
noted down all the readings corresponding to the
temperature sensor TS, Tb1, Tb2, Tb3, Tb4, and Ta.
3.3 Observation:- We took the readings as in
Table.3.
We continued the above process till the PCM’s
temperature become equal to the inlet water
temperature(almost).

Table 2:- Observations for Storing Period

Table 3:- Observation during discharging period.

 III. RESULT AND DISCUSSION
The temperature distribution of HTF and PCM in
the Thermal Energy Storage TES tank for varying
inlet fluid temperature and mass flow rates are
discussed for charging and discharging process.
The graphical study is also done.
A.CHARGING PERIOD ANALYSIS
Table 4. calculation for Charging period
Figure.4(a)
Figure.4(b)
Figure (1a) shows the increase in PCM It`s a trend.
This indicates that the PCM absorbed the
maximum amount of thermal energy from the hot
water. The inlet temperature shows a decreasing
trend, which is expected because the hot water
transfers its heat to the PCM and the temperature
decreases.
Figure.4(c)
In figure 4(c) Initially, efficiency is relatively high
because the system efficiently transfers thermal
energy to the PCM. Overall, the system maintains
a relatively high thermal efficiency throughout the
charging period, demonstrating its effectiveness in
storing thermal energy into the PCM.
The overall results show that the charging process
effectively transfers thermal energy from the hot
water to the paraffin wax PCM, resulting in a
significant increase in the PCM temperature. This
system has high thermal efficiency, most of the
energy supplied by hot water is absorbed by his
PCM.
B. STORING PERIOD ANALYSIS
Storage Period, in figure.2(a) During the storage
period of the paraffin wax PCM, the observed data
shows an interesting trend: PCM temperature
versus time: The graph shows the PCM
temperature at which the stored thermal energy is
retained during the charging period. Initially, the C. DISCHARGING PERIOD ANALYSIS
PCM temperature increases slightly as the system
stabilizes, followed by a relatively stable plateau
phase. After the initial stabilization period, the
PCM temperature remained relatively constant,
indicating that the PCM effectively absorbed and
stored thermal energy. A constant temperature
plateau suggests that the PCM can maintain its
stored energy without significant loss over the
storage period. In summary, the trends observed
Table 5. Calculation for discharging period.
during the storage period indicate that the paraffin
wax PCM efficiently stores the stored thermal
energy during the charging period.

Fig.6

The fig.6 shows how the PCM temperature

decreases over time as thermal energy is removed
from the PCM during the discharge process.

This figure.3(a) shows the change in HTF inlet and

outlet temperature during the discharge process. As
Table 5. Calculations for storing period
the HTF flows through the system, it absorbs
thermal energy from the PCM, resulting in a
decrease in the outlet temperature compared to the
inlet temperature. The measured efficiency values
indicate a high level of effectiveness in recovering
thermal energy from the PCM. Overall, these
results demonstrate that the stored thermal energy
is efficiently utilized to meet the energy demand
Fig.5:- Graph between PCM temp. and time during
and the performance of the thermal energy storage
storing period
system is good during the discharge process.
 IV. CONCLUSION
The heat transfer characteristics of phase change
material (PCM) have been successfully studied. We
have observed that (a) in the charging period, PCM
material is charged with thermal energy
(Temperature increased from 22ºC to 54ºC) and
efficiency increased from 92.92% to 84.57%,
respectively, according to the above temperature.
(b) In the storage period, PCM stores the energy for
later use. (c) In the discharging period, PCM
material is discharged with thermal energy
(Temperature decreased from 56ºC to 44ºC), and
efficiency decreased from 99.25% to 97.24%,
respectively, according to the above temperature.
So, PCM material is an excellent choice for thermal
energy storage as they have a high latent heat
capacity and work by melting and solidifying to
store and release heat. PCM materials have many
applications in Building, textiles, electronics, solar
cooking, etc. But, while calculating the overall
efficiency of the discharging process, we have
assumed that the paraffin wax has solidified
completely. Still, this assumption is not true, as,
during the discharge period, the cold water absorbs
heat from PCM. The temperature of PCM changes
from 50 to 44 ⁰C which is below the melting point
of PCM, but still, some of the PCM material may
remain in a liquid state, so the assumption may be
wrong to some extent. The heat transfer rate, cost
of material, and temperature range limitation are
other issues in PCM material. Continued research
and innovation are needed to solve these issues.
V. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to
the Indian Institute of Technology(IIT) Kanpur for
providing us with the opportunity to conduct our
research experiments in the Department of
Sustainable Energy Engineering. We are especially
grateful to our esteemed professors, Dr. Sudarshan
Narayan and Dr. Jishnu Bhattacharya, for their
invaluable guidance, support, and mentorship
during experiments.
We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Mr. Chandan
Kumar, the lab assistant, for his support in setting
up the experiments and maintaining the lab
equipments. Last but not the least, we would like to
extend our heartliest gratitude to Sparsh Rai, our
teaching lab assistant, for their guidance and
support during the experiment.
We are grateful to everyone who contributed to this
experimental study, and their assistance is deeply
appreciated.
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