Technical grade paraffin waxes as phase change materials for cool thermal storage and cool storage systems capital cost estimation

The present paper is confined to the discussion of technical grade paraffin waxes as phase change material (PCM) for cool storage and the cool storage systems capital cost investment. The objective of this study is to determine the potential for using cool storage systems. The thermal properties of technical grade paraffin waxes as PCM are investigated, and static and dynamic cool storage processes are discussed. The capital cost of the cooling storage system is estimated, which indicates the cooling storage system not only saves energy and other operation and maintenance costs, but also saves a significant fraction of the initial capital costs. Installing cool storage, at less cost than conventional nonstorage equipment, can often increase the cooling capacity of the existing system. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.