RT Journal Article ID 5f0eea306cd4d2d6 A1 Thiam, Ababacar A1 Mandiang, Youssouf A1 Sambou, Vincent A1 Azilinon, Dorothe A1 Adj, Mamadou T1 Theoretical and Experimental Study of a Water Phase-Change Solar Collector JF Heat Transfer Research JO HTR YR 2010 FD 2010-08-12 VO 41 IS 3 SP 283 OP 297 K1 collector K1 phase change K1 latent heat K1 heat transfer K1 paraffin K1 water AB This work presents the theoretical and experimental study of a water phase-change solar collector. This solar collector is comprised of two contiguous sections of which one is filled with paraffin (40−42)°C and the other with water; this type of solar collector uses the combined storage of heat by water and paraffin. With a low thermal conductivity, the performances of solid paraffin are improved considerably by its semi-transparency in the vicinity of the melting point (40−42)°C, it becomes transparent in the liquid phase and while becoming solid during the night, it limits the thermal losses of stored water, thus water is preserved at the melting point of paraffin (40−42)°C. The experimental results show that the average water temperature reached 48°C at 5 p.m. and the thermal efficiency reaches 50% during four operating hours. A one-dimensional mathematical model based on the enthalpy formulation is applied to the system. It correctly describes the performance of the solar collector by predicting the changes of the temperature in paraffin and stored water. This model takes into account natural convection in molten paraffin. A water phase-change solar collector has a rate of recovery of about 10% to 50% which is higher than that of a slab of about 10% to 15%. PB Begell House LK https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/46784ef93dddff27,65dad0407c8ce877,5f0eea306cd4d2d6.html