Numerical Investigation of the Melting of a Phase Change Material in a Thermal Storage Device With Embedded Air Flow Channels

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustafa Koz ◽  
Hamza S. Erden ◽  
H. Ezzat Khalifa
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Phase Change ◽  
Phase Change Material ◽  
Air Flow ◽  
Melting Process ◽  
Thermal Storage ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Storage Device ◽  
Aluminum Tubes ◽  
Change Material

Two time-dependent mathematical and numerical models with different levels of complexity and fidelity were developed to investigate the melting of a phase change material (PCM) configured as a number of aluminum-encased, PCM-filled slabs with embedded micro-channel aluminum tubes, and with parallel air-flow passages interposed between the slabs. Melting was first analyzed with the COMSOL Multiphysics® finite-element model (FEM) in a 2-D domain representing a full-size slab. The melting process is simulated via the apparent heat capacity method. The model captures the effect of natural convection in the PCM melt as well as the conjugate heat transfer through the aluminum tubes. A fast-executing quasi 2-D reduced-order model (ROM) was developed for repetitive design optimization studies. The ROM relies on a time-dependent 1-D closed-form solution of the heat conduction equation in a melting PCM, coupled with variations of the air temperature and heat transfer coefficient. Consequently, the FEM results were employed to develop corrections to the ROM. The corrected ROM was then utilized to study the melting process in a multi-slab thermal storage device that is designed to freeze the PCM at night and release 500 W-h of cooling over a span of ∼10 h during the day.

scholarly journals Analysis of Heat Transfer and Natural Convective of a Phase Change Material

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (VII) ◽  
pp. 3028-3037
Author(s):  
T. Ravi Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Phase Change ◽  
Phase Change Material ◽  
Latent Heat ◽  
Heat Storage ◽  
Storage Device ◽  
Latent Heat Storage ◽  
Recovery System ◽  
Solid Liquid ◽  
Change Material

A phase-change material (PCM) is a substance with a high latent heat storage capacity which on melting and solidifying at a certain temperature, is capable of storing and releasing large amounts of energy. Various PCM like Paraffin wax, stearic acid are considered which are used to absorb heat from the coolant water from the engine. The conduction and convection criterion of heat transfer enable the PCM to store this heat as latent heat. The amount of convection and temperature change brought about due to the heat flux has been simulated and studied in detail using FLUENT. The thermal energy storage device (TESD) works on the effect of absorption and rejection of heat during the solid-liquid phase change of heat storage material. The overall function of the TESS is dominated by the PCM. The PCM material should be selected considering the application and the working conditions. Depending on the applications, the PCMs should first be selected based on their melting temperature for heat recovery system.

scholarly journals Impact of ultrasound on the melting process and heat transfer of phase change material

2019 ◽  
Vol 158 ◽  
pp. 5014-5019
Author(s):  
Zhongjun Yan ◽  
Zhun (Jerry) Yu ◽  
Tingting Yang ◽  
Shuishen Li ◽  
Guoqiang Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Phase Change ◽  
Phase Change Material ◽  
Melting Process ◽  
Change Material

Numerical Investigation on Melting Process of a Phase Change Material Under Supergravity

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Xu ◽  
Zihang Zhu ◽  
Shugaowa Li ◽  
Jiale Wang
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Phase Change ◽  
Numerical Investigation ◽  
Phase Change Material ◽  
Melting Process ◽  
Heat Transfer Characteristics ◽  
Melting Heat ◽  
Earth Gravity ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Change Material

Abstract A numerical investigation on the melting process of paraffin wax RT44 under supergravity (5–20 g) was conducted to evaluate the effect of supergravity on the melting heat transfer characteristics. The simulations were conducted in a horizontally placed container with a constant heat flux of 5–50 kW/m2 maintained on the bottom wall under both supergravity and the earth gravity (1 g). The numerical data under supergravity are compared with those under the Earth gravity for all circumstances. The results indicate that the melting heat transfer characteristics of the phase change material (PCM) are affected by supergravity significantly (around 30%) within 20 g. With the increase of supergravity, the heating wall temperature decreases, and the liquid fraction as well as the melting rate increases. Meanwhile, the variation amplitudes of these melting characteristics decrease gradually until less than 2% at 20 g. The effect of supergravity can be attributed to the intensification of the natural convection due to buoyancy, yielding vortexes in internal flow and fluctuations of solid–liquid interface and temperature field.

Simulation Investigation for Heat Transfer in Fin-Tube Thermal Storage Unit with Phase Change Material

2010 ◽  
Vol 168-170 ◽  
pp. 895-899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian You Long
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Phase Change ◽  
Phase Change Material ◽  
Thermal Storage ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Outlet Temperature ◽  
Water Heater ◽  
Storage Unit ◽  
Fin Tube ◽  
Change Material

This paper addresses a simulation investigation of a fin-tube thermal storage unit involving phase change process dominated by heat conduction. The heat transfer of fin-tube thermal storage unit with phase change material (PCM) was simulated by Fluent. Graphical results including outlet temperature of heat transfer fluid (HTF), average temperature of PCM and phase front interface of solid and liquid phase of PCM versus time and fin distance were presented and discussed. According to simulation results, it was concluded that only the fin-tube thermal storage unit with fin distance of 12fin/inch could satisfied the request of heat release performance of household heat pump water heater for shower.

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