An experimental study has been carried out in order to investigate the heat storage characteristics for a latent heat storage tank with horizontal shell and tube type. The heat storage tank consists of cylindrical capsules with a staggered tube bank. The effects of flow rates and initial temperature differences on the melting time and heat storage rates are examined. It is found that the melting time decreases with increase of the flow rates and initial temperature differences. Results also show that the time-averaged overall heat transfer coefficients increase in proportion to the increase of flow rates and initial temperature differences.