Re: [RC] Equipedic and Research on Phase Change Material - Ed & Wendy Hauser
The basic idea works, but the problem is: "How much
total heat can the pad absorb before all of the beads have melted?" If one
were generating heat for a few minutes, I can see this making a real difference,
but an endurance horse produces heat for many hours. It is really the same
thing as putting ice in a picnic cooler. The beer is cooled until all the
ice melts, then the water has to be refrozen. How long this takes depends
on how much beer is put into the cooler, and how much heat leaks in from the
outside.
The other part of using phase change to absorb heat
is how much heat (Calories or BTU) per unit weight does the substance absorb
when it melts. It so happens that the ice to water and the water to
steam transitions require more heat than any other substance. This fact
coupled with the low cost, and low toxicity of water accounts for the popularity
of ice in coolers and steam engines.
Ed
Ed & Wendy Hauser 2994 Mittower
Road Victor, MT 59875
