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Heat Transfer Enhancement for PCM Thermal Energy Storage in Triplex Tube
Heat Exchanger

Article  in  Heat Transfer Engineering · July 2015

DOI: 10.1080/01457632.2015.1067090

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 Heat Transfer Enhancement For PCM Thermal Energy Storage in Triplex Tube Heat

Exchanger

Abduljalil. A. Al-Abidi1,2, Sohif. Mat1, K. Sopian1, M.Y. Sulaiman1 , Abdulrahman. Th. Mohammad1
1
Solar Energy Research Institute, National University of Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
2
Department of HVAC Engineering, Sana’a Community College, Sana’a, Yemen

Address correspondence to Abduljalil A. Al-abidi, Solar Energy Research Institute, National

University of Malaysia, 43000 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia, E-mail: [email protected]

Tel:+ 60156135676 , Fax: + 60389214593,

ABSTRACT

Thermal energy storage is critical for reducing the discrepancy between energy supply and energy

demand, as well as for improving the efficiency of solar thermal energy systems. Among the different

types of thermal energy storage, phase change materials (PCM) thermal energy storage has gained

significant attention recently because of its high energy density per unit mass/volume at nearly constant

temperature. This study experimentally investigates the using of a triplex tube heat exchanger (TTHX)

with PCM in the middle tube as the thermal energy storage to power a liquid desiccant air

conditioning system. Four longitudinal fins were welded to each of the inner and middle tubes as a

heat transfer enhancement in the TTHX to improve the thermal performance of the thermal energy

storage. The average temperature of the PCM during the melting process in the TTHX with and

without fins was compared. The PCM temperature gradients in the angular direction were analyzed to

study the effect of the natural convection in the melting process of the thermal storage. The energy

storage efficiency of the TTHX was determined. Results indicated that there was a considerable

enhancement in the melting rate by using fins in the TTHX thermal storage. The PCM melting time is

reduced to 86 % by increasing of the inlet HTF. The average heat storage efficiency calculated from

experimental data for all the PCMs is 71.8%, meaning that 28.2% of the heat actually was lost.
INTRODUCTION

In the last three decades, numerous researchers have intensively studied phase change materials

(PCMs) in thermal energy storage because of their high thermal energy densities per unit volume/mass

and their availability in different fields of engineering with wide temperature ranges. The use of PCM

thermal energy storage is recommended to improve energy efficiency and to reduce the discrepancy

between the energy supply and demand of solar thermal energy applications. Among the different types

of thermal energy storage, PCM thermal storage promises performance and reliability, with the

advantages of high storage density and almost constant thermal energy. They offer the ability to absorb

and store large quantities of thermal energy through the endothermic melt process[1].

Most PCMs have limited applications because of their low thermal conductivity. Thermal

energy storage leads to prolonged melting and solidification. Numerous studies focused on the heat

transfer enhancement technique, which deals with the improvement of such poor PCM characteristics,

including the utilization of finned tubes[2-4], insertion of a metal matrix into the PCM, application of

multi-tube heat exchangers[4], utilization of bubble agitation in PCMs, application of PCM dispersed

with high conductivity particles, and using microencapsulated PCMs [5]. Al-Abidi et al.[3]

experimentally investigated the PCM melting process in the middle tube of a triplex tube heat

exchanger (TTHX). They studied three heating approaches to melt the PCM: an inside heating method,

an outside heating method, and heating at both sides. The charging process totally depended on the

solar heating. Temperature distributions in three directions were studied. They reported that heating

both sides of the middle tube is preferable because the low heat transfer fluid (HTF) inlet temperature

is used, and the PCM melting time was reduced in contrast to the melting time of the other methods.

Jian-you [6] used triplex concentric tubes with PCM filling in the middle tube, where the charging

process in the outside tube came from the inside tube.

Numerous studies reported that the heat transfer between the HTF and the PCM with embedded fins in

the PCM can be improved by increasing the heat transfer area. Different fin configurations, including

external and internal fins (circular, longitudinal, and rectangular), are applied to PCMs.

Agyenim et al.[7] used circular and longitudinal fin heat transfer enhancements to achieve the

complete melting of erythritol as a PCM thermal storage to power an absorption-type air-conditioning

system. The main objective of these techniques was to melt the PCM through the solar energy

availability in European countries where the sunshine is less than 8 h. They reported that the

longitudinal fin thermal energy storage systems are suitable for charging and discharging in a

concentric tube PCM system, because they achieved the best charging performance with insignificant

subcooling during discharge. Bauer [8] developed an analytical model to investigate the effective

utilization of fins in LHTES; he studied the solidification times of PCM using two geometries; the first

geometry is a plane wall and the second geometry is a tube surrounded by the PCM-fin arrangement.

Mosaffa et al.[9] presented a two-dimensional analytical model to study the solidification process of a

PCM in a shell and tube heat exchanger with radial fins; they reported the PCM solidified more quickly

in the cylindrical shell storage than in the rectangular storage. In addition, the solid fraction of the PCM

increases more quickly when the cell aspect ratio is small. Ismail et al.[10] investigated numerically

and experimentally the effect of fin design parameters such as fin length, fin thickness, number of fins,

and the aspect ratio of the annular space on the complete solidification, solidified mass fraction, and the

total stored energy of the PCM. Al-Abidi et al.[11] introduced external and internal fins to the TTHX

as a heat transfer-enhancement technique. They numerically investigated the effect of different design

and operation parameters such as the fin length, fin thickness, number of fins, and PCM geometries, as

well as the TTHX materials and Stefan number, on the melting process. The result indicated that the

melting time for the eight-cell PCM unit geometries was reduced to 34.7% compared with that of the

triplex tube without fins.

 Triple tube concentric heat changer with PCM in the middle tubes increases the heat-transfer

area, consequently improving the heat transfer relative to that of the double pipe concentric heat

exchanger. In addition, the time required for total melting and the inlet temperature for the heat transfer

fluid (HTF) is reduced. The current study experimentally investigates the using of TTHX with PCM in

the middle tube as the thermal energy storage to power a liquid desiccant air conditioning system.

Moreover, the effect of longitudinal fins welded to each of the inner and middle tubes as a heat transfer

enhancement in the TTHX to improve the thermal performance of the thermal energy storage is

studied.

EXPERIMENTAL TEST AND PROCEDURE

Physical model

Figure 1 shows the physical configuration of the TTHX, which has an inner tube radius ri of

25.4 mm with a thickness of 1.2 mm. The middle tube radius rm and the outer tube radius ro were 75

and 100 mm, respectively, with a 2 mm thickness. Copper pipes were used to ensure high thermal

conductivity. The outer and inner tubes were used for the HTF (water), whereas the middle tube was

used for the PCM that is based on a commercially available material, Rubitherm GmbH (RT82). The

PCM physical properties such as the melting temperature, solidification temperature, as well as the

latent heat of fusion of RT82, were independently investigated by analyzing a 20.29mg sample of

RT82 using a Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC). The thermophysical properties of RT82 as

reported by the manufacturer are shown in Table 1, whereas the independent investigation by the

authors is reported in Table 2.

Experimental apparatus
 Thermal energy storage systems using the triplex concentric tube heat exchanger with and

without internal and external fins were fabricated to investigate the heat transfer enhancement on the

thermal performance of the PCM thermal storage. Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the

experimental apparatus, which includes the TTHX without fins, the TTHX with fins, hot-water

circulation pumps, evacuated tube solar collectors, charging storage tank with electric heater, rotameter

for measuring the flow rate, electronic controller, and manual shut-off valve. Figure 3 shows the.

TTHX section consisting of three horizontally mounted concentric tubes with lengths of 500 mm. The

inner tube was extended to approximately 300 mm from the entrance to ensure that the flow would be

fully developed. Two tubes with 32 mm diameter were welded eccentrically to the outer tube from

above and below at the entrance and exit of the HTF to deliver the hot water in to and out of the outer

tubes. The physical geometrical parameters of the TTHX are mentioned in the physical model section.

The inner and outer tubes are used to hold the HTF (water), and the middle tube is filled with 5.6 kg of

liquid PCM (RT 82). Four longitudinal fins (fin pitch of 42mm,length of 480mm,and thickness of

1mm)welded to each of the inner and middle tubes for the TTHX with internal-external fins as shown

in Figure 3.

Fifteen thermocouples emerged in the PCM every 10 mm in the radial and different angular

directions. The thermocouples were located 100 mm from the entrance of the HTF tube in the thermal

storage, as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 3. Two thermocouples were installed at the inlet and outlet of

the HTF tube to measure the inlet and outlet temperatures of the HTF. The data monitoring system was

comprised of K-type thermocouples (measured at 0.5% accuracy), a data logger, and a personal

computer to measure the temperatures in the PCM thermal storage. HTF flow rate was measured using

a rotameter (measured at 5% accuracy). Seventy millimetre-thick glass wool insulation was wrapped

around the TTHX to decrease heat loss and to insulate the surface. The hot water used in the charging

process was delivered from a central heating station at the Green Technology Park at the Solar
Research Energy Institute, National University of Malaysia, as shown in Figure 2. This heating station

was designed to deliver the hot water required by various solar thermal systems. The central heating

station consists of 300 evacuated tube solar collectors with three 200-L storage tanks. One storage tank

was used for the current application. Charging started when the storage tank temperature reached a

temperature of 90 °C.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

To charge the PCM thermal storage with a steady state HTF inlet temperature, different

experimental studies were carried out. The charging process to melt the PCM depended on the

electrical heat sources. Heating up of the storage tank was conducted by a solar heating source until the

required temperature was achieved. Then, the electric heater, controlled by a thermostat, was run to

maintain a constant inlet temperature. The average temperature of the PCM based on the 15

thermocouple readings embedded in the PCM thermal storage entrance as shown in Figure 3.

Comparison of temperature profiles for TTHX with and without fins

Figure 4 shows the PCM average temperature versus time for the TTHX with and without fins

during the melting process. The temperature profile indicated that there is no significant difference in

the average PCM temperatures at the early time of melting when the conduction mechanism dominated

the heat transfer process. After 10 min of melting, the average temperature of the TTHX with internal-

external fins was higher than the TTHX without fins. The curves show that the TTHX with fins

recorded a shorter complete melt time after 60 min., whereas the TTHX without fins consumed a

longer time. Complete melting in the TTHX without fins was approximately 100 min or more.
Angular temperature variation for thermal energy storage

In this study, temperature measurements along the angular directions were considered to

investigate the effect of the natural convection of the thermal storage. The angular direction starts from

0° clockwise to 157.5° for the TTHX with fins and from 0° clockwise to 180° for the TTHX without

fins, as shown in Figure 5. The angular average temperature-variation readings were taken from

thermocouples at the same angles (22.5°, 67.5°, 112.5°, and 157.5°) for the TTHX with fins and at

angles (0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, and 180°) for the TTHX without fins. Figure 6 shows the average

temperature variations along angular directions for the melting processes.

These averages measurements are collected from different thermocouple readings in different

locations at the thermal storage entrance. The average temperature was the same in the earlier part of

the heating process, as well as at the final stage of the melting process of the PCM for the TTHX

without fins. The highest temperature was observed at ϴ = 0° because of the buoyancy-driven natural

convection during the phase transition process of the PCM. The reason is that the hot liquid PCM was

squeezed up into the upper part of the thermal storage. There were no significant differences in the

average temperature for all angular directions. This is attributed to the natural convection in the top

region of the thermal storage as well as the vortex at the bottom side of the thermal storage. The highest

average temperature was recorded at ϴ = 157.5° for the TTHX with fins, which were located at the

bottom of the thermal storage; this is attributed to the good thermal diffusion in this part, followed by ϴ

= 112.5°.

There was no significant difference in the average temperature observed at ϴ = 67.5° and ϴ =

22.5°. The average temperature occurred at ϴ = 22.5° and ϴ = 67.5°, which were less than ϴ = 112.5°,

ϴ = 157.5°. This is may be because that the upper part was affected by the entrance disturbance. The

flow was disturbed by changing the flow path from the 32-mm inlet pipe to the outer tube. The other
source that affected the heat diffusion in this part was the location of the outer tube inlet pipe, which

was not centered but was soldered at the left side, as shown in the Figure 3.

HTF inlet temperatures influences

Figure 7 shows the temperature contours of the TTHX with fins for PCM thermal energy

storage at t =30 min for HTF inlet temperatures of 85°C, 90°C, 95°C, and 100°C. The charging of the

PCM under different HTF inlet temperatures was performed at an 8.3 kg/min mass flow rate. The

minimum temperature required to achieve PCM melting, which was above the PCM melting

temperature, was the basis for the HTF inlet temperature values. The temperature readings were based

on the thermocouples embedded in the PCM thermal storage entrance, and from linear interpolation

between these points. Figure 7 shows that the heat conduction mechanism dominated the heat transfer

process when the HTF inlet temperature was 85°C after 30 min. When the HTF inlet temperature

increased to 90°C and 95°C the PCM average temperature increased specially in the lower part of the

thermal storage due to good thermal diffusion. The PCM was totally melted when the HTF inlet

temperature increased to 100°C, where the natural convection accelerated the PCM melting process.

The total melting times of the PCM were reduced to 86 % by increasing the inlet HTF temperature

from 85°C to 100°C.

Thermal energy storage efficiency

Figure 8 displays the inlet and outlet temperatures of the HTF, as well as the average

temperature of the PCM temperature versus time for the TTHX with fins. The average charging

temperatures of the PCM melting were 87°C with an 10.8 kg/min mass flow rate. It was observed for

all melting tests that the PCM temperature increased rapidly initially, during the sensible heating period
of the melting process. As the phase transitions started, the difference between the inlet and outlet

temperatures was constant for a long period of time until the melting process for the PCM was

complete.

Figure 9 illustrates the average temperature of the PCM, as well as the outlet and inlet

temperatures of the HTF versus time for the TTHX with fins during the discharging process. The

average HTF inlet temperature for discharging was 63°C with an 4.848 kg/min mass flow rate. It was

noted for the solidification process that the PCM temperature decreased initially, during the sensible

cooling period of the freezing process. As the phase transitions completed, the difference between the

outlet and inlet temperatures was decreased until the freezing process for the PCM was complete.

The energy consumed for the PCM charging include the sensible heating process to heat up the PCM

from the initial temperature ( usually ambient temperature), latent heat of fusion for the PCM, and

sensible heating after the melting temperature of the PCM. The other components related to heating

consumed for thermal storage structure and heat transfer fluid. The total energy deliver to the system

that generated in the thermal energy station either it is from renewable energy or waste energy

conveyed by the HTF (water) so the energy input to the system can be determined by the following

equation.

̇ ( ) (1)

where Qch is the energy to melt the whole PCM during charging period which translated from the

storage tank, mch is the HTF mass flow rate, cpw is the specific heat of the HTF (water).
During discharging, the purpose is to recover heat from the solidifying PCM, so that the total enthalpy

received from the PCM is the product energy content. But the energy release considered for the

application depended on the application temperature required, in our application, the minimum

temperature required to operate the liquid desiccant is about 60ºC-70 ºC. The maximum energy release

from the thermal storage can be written as this formula.

̇ ( ) (2)

where Qdis is the energy which collected by HTF form PCM during the discharge period and transferred

to the load. mdis is the HTF mass flow rate.

PCM thermal energy storage efficiency was studied for TTHX with fins. The efficiency is

defined as a ratio of the real heat retrieved by the HTF during the PCM solidification to the heat

extracted from the HTF during PCM melting process that can be stored in the PCM. For viewing the

total process energy, the overall efficiency of the thermal storage can be written as [12].

(3)

̇ ( )
̇ ( )
(4)
Table 3 indicated the energy efficiency of the TTHX with fins. The total amount of heat energy

retrieved was 8314 kW during the freezing process, accounting for 71.8% of the heat extracted from

the HTF during the melting process. The remaining 28.2% of the total energy charged was sensible

subcooled heat from 27 ºC to 63ºC and the amount of heat lost.

CONCLUSIONS

A triplex tube heat exchanger was experimentally investigated as latent heat thermal energy

storage. The middle tube was filled with PCM, whereas the inner and outer tubes were used for HTF.

Heat transfer enhancement techniques by using fins embedded in the PCM in the TTHX was

investigated experimentally. The average temperature of the PCM during the melting process in the

TTHX with and without fins was compared. The PCM temperature gradients in the angular direction

were analyzed to study the effect of the natural convection in the melting process of the PCM. The

effect of the HTF inlet temperature on the thermal energy storage effectiveness was studied. Results

indicated that there was a considerable enhancement in the melting rate by using fins in the TTHX

thermal storage. The average heat storage efficiency calculated from experimental data for all the

PCMs is 71.8%.

NOMENCLATURE

Q heat energy (kW)

m mass flow rate (kg/s)

cp specific heat (kJ/kg.K)

T temperature(ºC)
Greek Symbols

η energy efficiency

Subscripts

in inlet

out outlet

ch charging

dis discharging

w water
REFERENCES

[1] Howard, J, A., and Walsh, P.A., An experimental investigation of heat transfer enhancement

mechanisms in microencapsulated phase change material slurry flows. Heat Transfer Engineering,

vol. 34, no. 2-3, pp. 223–234, 2013.

[2] Al-Abidi, A. A., Mat, S., Sopian, K., Sulaiman, M.Y., and Mohammad, A. Th. Experimental

study of melting and solidification of PCM in a triplex tube heat exchanger with fins. Energy and

Buildings, vol. 68, Part A, pp. 33-41, 2014.

[3] Al-Abidi, A. A., Mat, S., Sopian, K., Sulaiman, M.Y., and Mohammad, A. Th., Experimental

study of PCM melting in triplex tube thermal energy storage for liquid desiccant air conditioning

system. Energy and Buildings, vol. 60, pp. 270-279, 2013.

[4] Parry, A. J., Eames, V.C., and Agyenim, F.B., Modeling of thermal energy storage shell-and-tube

heat exchanger. Heat Transfer Engineering, vol. 35, no. 1, pp. 1–14, 2014.

[5] Zhao, Z., Hao, R., and Shi, Y., Parametric analysis of enhanced heat transfer for laminar flow of

microencapsulated phase change suspension in a circular tube with constant wall temperature.

Heat Transfer Engineering, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 97–106, 2008.

[6] Jian-you, L., Numerical and experimental investigation for heat transfer in triplex concentric tube

with phase change material for thermal energy storage, Solar. Energy, vol. 82, no. 1, pp. 977–985,

2008.

[7] Agyenim, F., Eames, P., and Smyth, M., A comparison of heat transfer enhancement in a medium

temperature thermal energy storage heat exchanger using fins, Solar Energy, vol. 83, no. 9, pp.

1509-1520, 2009.
[8] Bauer, T., Approximate analytical solutions for the solidification of PCMs in fin geometries using

effective thermophysical properties, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, vol. 54, no.

23-24, pp. 4923–4930, 2011.

[9] Mosaffa, A. H., Talati, F., Basirat Tabrizi, H. and Rosen, M. A., Analytical modeling of pcm

solidification in a shell and tube finned thermal storage for air conditioning systems. Energy and

Buildings vol. 49, PP. 356–361, 2012.

[10] Ismail K.A.R., Alves, C.L.F., and Modesto, M.S., Numerical and experimental study on the

solidification of PCM around a vertical axially finned isothermal cylinder. Applied Thermal

Engineering vol. 2, no. 1, PP.53–77, 2001.

[11] Al-Abidi, A. A., Mat, S., Sopian, K., Sulaiman, M.Y., and Mohammad, A. Th., Internal and

external fin heat transfer enhancement technique for latent heat thermal energy storage in triplex

tube heat exchangers. Applied Thermal Engineering. vol. 53, no. 1, PP.147-56, 2013.

[12] Rezaei, M., Anisur, M. R., Mahfuz, M. H., Kibria, M. A., Saidur, R., and R.Metselaar, I. H. S. C.,

Performance and cost analysis of phase change materials with different melting temperatures in

heating systems. Energy. vol.53, pp. 173-178, 2013.

Table 1.Thermophysical properties of the (RT 82 ) PCM.

Properties RT82

Density of PCM, solid,ρs (kg/m3) 950

Density of PCM, liquid, ρl (kg/m3) 770

Specific heat of PCM, Cp (J/kg K) 2000

Latent heat of fusion, L (J/kg) 176000

Melting temperature, Tm (°C) 77-82

Thermal conductivity, k (W/m.K) 0.2

Thermal expansion coefficient (1/K) 0.001

Dynamic Viscosity, (kg/m.s) 0.03499

Table 2 Reported mean and standard uncertainty of the PCM thermal properties

Melting process Solidification process

Onset point Peak point Heat of fusion Onset point Peak Point Heat of Fusion

(°C) (°C) (KJ/kg) (°C) (°C) (KJ/kg)

70.12± .15 82.18 201.64 81.86 78.16 207.81

± 0.05 ±1.39 ±0.03 ±0.10 ±1.36

Table 3 Energy stored and released with energy efficiency for TTHX with fin

Properties Unit Values

Charging energy kW 11322

Retrieved energy kW 8136

PCM thermal efficiency (%) 71.8

 List of Figure Captions

Fig. 1 The physical configuration of the TTHX

Fig. 2 Schematic diagram of the experimental apparatus includes evacuated tube solar collector (1),

TTHX with fin(2), TTHX without fin(3), hot-water circulation pumps (4,7), electronic

controller(5), charging storage tank with electric heater (6), rotameter(8), thermocouples(9),data

logger(10), personal computer(11),pressure gauge(12),air vent(13), and manual shut off valve

(14 ).

Fig. 3 Fig.3 Schematic diagram of the TTHX; (a) cross section of TTHX, (b) longitudinal section of

TTHX.

Fig. 4 PCM average temperature for TTHX with and without fins

Fig. 5 Thermocouples location, (a) TTHX with fins, (b) TTHX without fins

Fig. 6 Average temperatures recorded in the angular direction for the thermal storage, (a) TTHX without

fin, (b) TTHX with fins.

Fig. 7 HTF inlet temperature effect on the PCM melting time 8.3 kg/min at t= 30 min,(a) 85°C , (b)

90°C, (c) 95°C, (d) 100°C.

Fig. 8 Melting process for the TTHX with mass flow rates of 10.8 kg/s, an average HTF inlet

temperature 87°C.

Fig. 9 Solidification process for the TTHX with mass flow rates of 4.848 kg/s, an average HTF inlet

temperature 63°C
Figure 1 The physical configuration of the TTHX
Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the experimental apparatus includes evacuated tube solar collector (1),

TTHX with fin(2), TTHX without fin(3), hot-water circulation pumps (4,7), electronic

controller(5), charging storage tank with electric heater (6), rotameter(8), thermocouples(9),data

logger(10), personal computer(11),pressure gauge(12),air vent(13), and manual shut off valve

(14 ).
 Flow direction 500 mm
480 mm

4
3
2

50.8
1 7

ɸ
150
200
6

ɸ
ɸ
5
(a)
ri 8
910 Fig.2
11
Fin 12
13
rm 14
15
r
o

Thermocouples locations
Fin

Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the TTHX; (a) cross section of TTHX, (b) longitudinal section of TTHX.
Figure 4 PCM average temperature for TTHX with and without fins
 (a) (b)

Figure 5 Thermocouples location, (a) TTHX with fins, (b) TTHX without fins
 (a)

(b)

Figure 6 Average temperatures recorded in the angular direction for the thermal storage, (a) TTHX
without fin, (b) TTHX with fins.
 (a) (b)

(c) (d)

Figure 7 HTF inlet temperature effect on the PCM melting time 8.3 kg/min at t= 30 min,(a)
85°C , (b) 90°C, (c) 95°C, (d) 100°C.
 T PCM T in T out
100

90

80
Temperature, ºC

70

60

50

40

30
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Time, min
Figure 8 Melting process for the TTHX with mass flow rates of 10.8 kg/s, an average
HTF inlet temperature 87°C
 T PCM T out T in

90
Temperature, ºC

80

70

60

50

40

30
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Time, min

Figure 9 Solidification process for the TTHX with mass flow rates of 4.848 kg/s, an average
HTF inlet temperature 63°C
 Abduljalil A. Al-Abidi has received his B.Sc. degree in Mechanical
Engineering from Sana’a University, Sana’a, Yemen in 1999. In 2003 he has got
his master degree in Air Conditioning Engineering from Al-Balqa` Applied
University, Salt, Jordan. Currently he is a PhD candidate at the Solar Energy
Research Institute, University Kebangsaan Malaysia(UKM) in the field of
Renewable Energy. He is a member of World Society of Sustainable Energy
Technologies (WSSET). His research interest includes thermal energy storage,
phase change material, solar energy, solar thermal cooling system.

Sohif Mat has received his B.Sc. degree in Mechanical Engineering from
University of Malaya, Malaysia in 1983. In 1990 he has got his PhD degree in
Mechanical Engineering, University of Malaya, Malaysia. He is a principle
research fellow at the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI), University
Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in Bangi Malaysia, he is a professor at UKM and
the industrial relations coordinator of SERI, UKM. His Research Interest
includes renewable energy, PCM, evaporative cooling, solar thermal systems.

Kamaruzzaman Sopian has received his B.Sc. degree in Mechanical

Engineering from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1985 and his master
degree and PhD in Energy Resources, Solar Energy form University of
Pittsburgh and Mechanical Engineering University of Miami-Coral Gables in
1989 and 1997 respectively. He is professor at the department of Mechanical
Engineering, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and he is the director of Solar
Energy Research Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. His Research
interest includes solar energy, photovoltaic power system, solar thermal systems,
and renewable energy in common.

M.Yusof .Sulaiman is a principle research fellow at the solar energy research

institute (SERI), National university of Malaysia in Bangi Malaysia. Prior to
joining SERI he was a professor at the Physics Department , University Putra
Malaysia (UPM) from 1973 until his retirement in 2004. He received his PhD from
University of London in 1977 in Nuclear Physics . He has served as the Head of
Department of Physics ,UPM and the Dean of Faculty of Science Environmental
Studies ,UPM. His current research interests include organic solar cell,
photovoltaic and applications and thermal cooling system.
 Abdulrahman Th. Mohammad is a PhD student in the Liquid Desiccant Air-
Conditioning System, Solar Energy Research Institute, National University of
Malaysia, Malaysia. He received his Bachelor’s degree from the Collage of
Military Engineering, Iraq in 1994 and Master’s degree from the same collage
in 2002. Currently, he is working as a lecturer in Mechanical Engineering,
Baqubah Technical Institute, Iraq. He is published about 25 research papers in
international journals and conferences.

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