Numerical and Experimental Investigation of Shell-and-Tube Phase-Change Material Thermal Energy Storage Unit

2016 ◽  
Vol 138 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas H. Sherer ◽  
Yogendra Joshi
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Phase Change ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Phase Change Materials ◽  
Control Volume ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Transient Temperature ◽  
Storage Unit ◽  
Shell And Tube

Solid liquid phase-change materials (PCMs) present a promising approach for reducing data center cooling costs. We review prior research in this area. A shell-and-tube PCM thermal energy storage (TES) unit is then analyzed numerically and experimentally. The tube bank is filled with commercial paraffin RUBITHERM RT 28 HC PCM, which melts as the heat transfer fluid (HTF) flows across the tubes. A fully implicit one-dimensional control volume formulation that utilizes the enthalpy method for phase change has been developed to determine the transient temperature distributions in both the PCM and the tubes themselves. The energy gained by a column of tubes is used to determine the exit bulk HTF temperature from that column, ultimately leading to an exit HTF temperature from the TES unit. This paper presents a comparison of the numerical and experimental results for the transient temperature profiles of the PCM-filled tubes and HTF.

scholarly journals Towards development of a prototype high-temperature latent heat storage unit as an element of a RES-based energy system (part 2)

2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 401-408
Author(s):  
J. Karwacki ◽  
K. Bogucka-Bykuć ◽  
W. Włosiński ◽  
S. Bykuć
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Experimental Study ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Heat Storage ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Storage Unit ◽  
Latent Heat Storage ◽  
Shell And Tube

Abstract This paper presents an experimental study performed with the general aim of defining procedures for calculation and optimization of shell-and-tube latent thermal energy storage unit with metals or metal alloys as PCMs. The experimental study is focused on receiving the exact information about heat transfer between heat transfer fluid (HTF) and phase change material (PCM) during energy accumulation process. Therefore, simple geometry of heat transfer area was selected. Two configurations of shell-and-tube thermal energy storage (TES) units were investigated. The paper also highlights the emerging trend (reflected in the literature) with respect to the investigation of metal PCM-based heat storage units in recent years and shortly presents unique properties and application features of this relatively new class of PCMs.

Numerical and Experimental Investigation of Shell-and-Tube Phase Change Material Thermal Storage Unit

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas H. Sherer ◽  
Yogendra Joshi
Keyword(s):  
Phase Change ◽  
Phase Change Material ◽  
Control Volume ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Transient Temperature ◽  
Storage Unit ◽  
Tube Bank ◽  
Fully Implicit ◽  
Shell And Tube ◽  
Change Material

A shell-and-tube phase change material (PCM) thermal energy storage (TES) unit has been analyzed numerically and experimentally. The tube bank is filled with commercial paraffin RUBITHERM RT 28 HC PCM, which melts as the heat transfer fluid (HTF) flows across the tubes. A fully-implicit one-dimensional control volume formulation that utilizes the enthalpy method for phase change has been developed to determine the transient temperature distributions in both the PCM and the tubes themselves. The energy gained by a column of tubes is used to determine the exit bulk HTF temperature from that column, ultimately leading to an exit HTF temperature from the TES unit. This paper presents a comparison of the numerical and experimental results for the transient temperature profiles of the PCM-filled tubes and HTF.

scholarly journals Investigation of the dynamic characteristics of a thermal energy storage unit filled with multiple phase change materials

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (Suppl. 2) ◽  
pp. 527-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyan Li ◽  
Rongpeng Huang ◽  
Xinyue Miao ◽  
Xuelei Wang ◽  
Yabin Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Phase Change ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Phase Change Materials ◽  
Storage Systems ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Energy Storage Systems ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage Systems

In order to improve the thermal performance of thermal energy storage systems, a packed bed thermal energy storage systems unit using spherical capsules filled with multiple phase change materials (multi-PCM) for use in conventional air-conditioning systems is presented. A 3-D mathematical model was established to investigate the charging characteristics of the thermal energy storage systems unit. The optimum proportion between the multi-PCM was identified. The effects of heat transfer fluid-flow rate and heat transfer fluid inlet temperature on the liquid phase change materials volume fraction, charging time and charging capacity of the thermal energy storage system unit are studied. The results indicate that the charging capacity of multi-PCM units is higher than that of the conventional single-PCM (HY-2). For proportions 0:1:0, 2:3:3, 3:2:3, 3:3:2, 4:1:3, and 4:2:2, the charging capacity decreases by approximately 24.84%, 14.69%, 6.47%, 3.82%, and 1.13%, respectively, compared to the 4:2:2 proportion. Moreover, decreasing the heat transfer fluid inlet temperature can obviously shorten the complete charging time of the thermal energy storage systems unit.

scholarly journals Experimental Investigation and Prediction of Charging/Discharging Performance of Phase Change Material based Thermal Energy Storage Unit

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 600-609
Author(s):  
Saulius Pakalka ◽  
Kęstutis Valančius
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Phase Change ◽  
Phase Change Material ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Response Surfaces ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Inlet Temperature ◽  
Storage Unit ◽  
Change Material

Abstract The study presents the experimental and analytical investigation, which was carried out to evaluate the charging/discharging performance of phase change material (PCM) in the thermal energy storage (TES) unit. The experiments performed under different operating modes of the heat storage system, changing the inlet temperature and the mass flow rate of the heat transfer fluid (HTF). The calculated amount of thermal energy based on the partial enthalpy distribution provided by the manufacturer’s datasheet compared to that obtained from the experiments. Based on the experimental results, a three-dimensional response surfaces formed and a regression models obtained, which allow predicting the PCM charging and discharging performance.

Numerical Investigation and Nondimensional Analysis of the Dynamic Performance of a Thermal Energy Storage System Containing Phase Change Materials and Liquid Water

2016 ◽  
Vol 139 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hebat-Allah M. Teamah ◽  
Marilyn F. Lightstone ◽  
James S. Cotton
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Phase Change ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Phase Change Materials ◽  
Storage Capacity ◽  
Dynamic Performance ◽  
Water System ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Energy Storage Capacity

The dynamic performance of a thermal energy storage tank containing phase change material (PCM) cylinders is investigated computationally. Water flowing along the length of the cylinders is used as the heat transfer fluid. A numerical model based on the enthalpy-porosity method is developed and validated against experimental data from the literature. The performance of this hybrid PCM/water system was assessed based on the gain in energy storage capacity compared to a sensible only system. Gains can reach as high as 179% by using 50% packing ratio and 10 °C operating temperature range in water tanks. Gains are highly affected by the choice of PCM module diameter; they are almost halved as diameter increases four times. They are also affected by the mass flow rate nonlinearly. A nondimensional analysis of the energy storage capacity gains as a function of the key nondimensional parameters (Stefan, Fourier, and Reynolds numbers) as well as PCM melting temperature was performed. The simulations covered ranges of 0.1 <  Stẽ  < 0.4, 0 < Fo < 600, 20 < Re < 4000, 0.2<(ρCP)*<0.8, and 0.2<θm<0.8.

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