Melting point and natural convective heat transfer coefficient of paraffin wax

Abstract

This research was aimed to study melting behavior of paraffin wax and to evaluate the natural heat convection coefficient of solid cylinder paraffin wax. Two grades of solid paraffin wax; white commercial grade and yellow market grade were studied. Three sizes of flat test tube in diameter 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 centimeters were used. Three different amounts of paraffin, indicated from samples’ heights of 5, 7 and 10 centimeters, were set. The results found the average melting point of both grade paraffin ranged from 44-77 oC. Based on the numerical analysis, heat behavior of solid cylinder paraffin at the initial temperature of 50 oC to room temperature of about 30 oC found that natural convection coefficients was ranged from 3 to 9 W/m 2oC. Melting point temperature was found mass independent property while natural convection coefficient declined as the sample’s diameter size inclined