| 摘要 |
A heat exchanger for a phase change material is provided which comprises a container holding the phase change material, a tube surrounding the container to define an annular space therebetween, and at least two divider walls extending across the annular space to divide the annular space into at least upper and lower flow passageways. The heat exchanger can preferably be operated in either a melt cycle or a freeze cycle. In the melt cycle, the lower flow passageway is configured to receive heat exchange fluid to initiate melting of the phase change material from the bottom so that newly-formed liquid phase change material is displaced toward the top of the container. In the freeze cycle, the upper flow passageway receives heat exchange fluid to initiate freezing of the phase change material at the top. The newly-formed solid phase change material falls to the bottom of the container, displacing liquid phase change material toward the top. |
