2.1. Existing testing facility

In 2003 a testing facility was installed at the institute which basically circulates the slurry between two counter flow plate heat exchangers. In one of them the material is cooled (transition to solid phase) in second heat exchanger the material is melted again.

This facility offers the possibility to determine the following physical properties under operation:

— Heat capacity

— The range of melting temperatures

— Thermal and mechanical cycle stability

— Subcooling[14]

— Heat transfer coefficient

— Pressure drop

Additionally this facility allows the testing of the influence of the liquid on standard hydraulic components such as conventional plate heat exchangers, centrifugal pumps, membrane expansion vessels, breathers and valves. [6]