Investigation on Phase Change Behavior of Paraffin Phase Change Material in a Spherical Capsule for Solar Thermal Storage Units

In this work, the melting and solidification behaviour of paraffin phase change material encapsulated in a stainless steel spherical container has been studied experimentally. A computational fluid dynamics analysis has also been performed for the encapsulated phase change material (PCM) during phase change process. In the melting process, the hot air, used as the heat transfer fluid enters the test section and flows over the spherical capsule resulting in the melting of phase change material. In the solidification process, the ambient air flows over the capsule and received heat from phase change material resulting in the solidification of phase change material. In the computational fluid dynamics, the constant wall boundary condition is employed for both melting (75°C) and solidification (36°C) processes since the internal conductive resistance offered by the PCM is much higher compared to the outer surface convective resistance. The time required for complete solidification and melting of the phase change material obtained from the computational fluid dynamics analysis are validated with the experimental results and a reasonable agreement is achieved. The reason for the deviation between the results are analyzed and reported.     

Thermal performance of myristic acid as a phase change material for energy storage application

Thermal performance and phase change stability of myristic acid as a latent heat energy storage material has been studied experimentally. In the experimental study, the thermal performance and heat transfer characteristics of the myristic acid were tested and compared with other studies given in the literature. In the present study is included some parameters such as transition times, temperature range, and propagation of the solid–liquid interface as well as heat flow rate effect on the phase change stability of myristic acid as a phase change material (PCM). The experimental results showed that the melting stability of the PCM is better in the radial direction than the axial direction. The variety of the melting and solidification parameters of the PCM with the change of inlet water temperature is also studied. The results show that the better stability of the myristic acid was accomplished at low inlet water temperature compared with the obtained results at high inlet water temperature. We also observed that while the heat exchanger tube is in the horizontal position, the PCM has more effective and steady phase change characteristics than in the vertical position. The heat storage capacity of the container (PCM tube) is not as good as we expected in this study and the average heat storage efficiency (or heat exchanger effectiveness) is 54%. It means that 46% of the heat acrually lost somewhere.     

Heat transfer enhancement for thermal energy storage using metal foams embedded within phase change materials (PCMs)

In this paper the experimental investigation on the solid/liquid phase change (melting and solidification) processes have been carried out. Paraffin wax RT58 is used as phase change material (PCM), in which metal foams are embedded to enhance the heat transfer. During the melting process, the test samples are electrically heated on the bottom surface with a constant heat flux. The PCM with metal foams has been heated from the solid state to the pure liquid phase. The temperature differences between the heated wall and PCM have been analysed to examine the effects of heat flux and metal foam structure (pore size and relative density). Compared to the results of the pure PCM sample, the effect of metal foam on solid/liquid phase change heat transfer is very significant, particularly at the solid zone of PCMs. When the PCM starts melting, natural convection can improve the heat transfer performance, thereby reducing the temperature difference between the wall and PCM. The addition of metal foam can increase the overall heat transfer rate by 3-10 times (depending on the metal foam structures and materials) during the melting process (two-phase zone) and the pure liquid zone. The tests for investigating the solidification process under different cooling conditions (e.g. natural convection and forced convection) have been carried out. The results show that the use of metal foams can make the sample solidified much faster than pure PCM samples, evidenced by the solidification time being reduced by more than half. In addition, a two-dimensional numerical analysis has been carried out for heat transfer enhancement in PCMs by using metal foams, and the prediction results agree reasonably well with the experimental data.     

Effect of internal void placement on the heat transfer performance – Encapsulated phase change material for energy storage

The effect of an internal air void on the heat transfer phenomenon within encapsulated phase change material (EPCM) is examined. Heat transfer simulations are conducted on a two dimensional cylindrical capsule using sodium nitrate as the high temperature phase change material (PCM). The effects of thermal expansion of the PCM and the buoyancy driven convection within the fluid media are considered in the present thermal analysis. The melting time of three different initial locations of an internal 20% air void within the EPCM capsule are compared. Latent heat is stored within an EPCM capsule, in addition to sensible heat storage. In general, the solid/liquid interface propagates radially inward during the melting process. The shape of the solid liquid interface as well as the rate at which it moves is affected by the location of the internal air void. The case of an initial void located at the center of the EPCM capsule has the highest heat transfer rate and thus fastest melting time. An EPCM capsule with a void located at the top has the longest melting time. Since the inclusion of a void space is necessary to accommodate the thermal expansion of a PCM upon melting, understanding its effect on the heat transfer within an EPCM capsule is necessary.     

Thermal energy storage system using stearic acid as a phase change material

The thermal performance and phase change stability of stearic acid as a latent heat energy storage material has been studied experimentally. The thermal performance and heat transfer characteristics of the stearic acid were tested and compared with other studies given in the literature. In the present study, parameters such as transition times, temperature range and propagation of the solid–liquid interface as well as the effect of the heat flow rate on the phase change stability of stearic acid as a phase change material (PCM) were studied. The experimental results showed that the melting stability of the PCM is better in the radial direction than in the axial direction. The variation in the melting and solidification parameters of the PCM with the change of inlet water temperature is also studied. We observed that while the heat exchanger tube is in the horizontal position, the PCM has more effective and steady phase change characteristics than in the vertical position. The heat storage capacity of the container (PCM tube) is not as good as we expected in this study and the average heat storage efficiency (or heat exchanger effectiveness) is 50.3%. This indicates that 49.7% of the heat is actually lost somewhere.     

矩形腔内相变材料接触熔化的分析

对矩形腔内相变材料紧密接触熔化过程进行了理论分析。应用努谢尔特液体边界层理论，求得了便于工程计算用的接触熔化传热过程的理论解。分析结果与实验数据进行了比较，吻合程度良好。     

Thermal performance of PCM thermal storage unit for a roof integrated solar heating system

The thermal performance of a phase change thermal storage unit is analysed and discussed. The storage unit is a component of a roof integrated solar heating system being developed for space heating of a home. The unit consists of several layers of phase change material (PCM) slabs with a melting temperature of 29 °C. Warm air delivered by a roof integrated collector is passed through the spaces between the PCM layers to charge the storage unit. The stored heat is utilised to heat ambient air before being admitted to a living space. The study is based on both experimental results and a theoretical two dimensional mathematical model of the PCM employed to analyse the transient thermal behaviour of the storage unit during the charge and discharge periods. The analysis takes into account the effects of sensible heat which exists when the initial temperature of the PCM is well below or above the melting point during melting or freezing. The significance of natural convection occurring inside the PCM on the heat transfer rate during melting which was previously suspected as the cause of faster melting process in one of the experiments is discussed. The results are compared with a previous analysis based on a one dimensional model which neglected the effect of sensible heat. A comparison with experimental results for a specific geometry is also made.     

Numerical and experimental investigation for heat transfer in triplex concentric tube with phase change material for thermal energy storage

This paper addresses a numerical and experimental investigation of a thermal energy storage unit involving phase change process dominated by heat conduction. The thermal energy storage unit involves a triplex concentric tube with phase change material (PCM) filling in the middle channel, with hot heat transfer fluid (HHTF) flowing outer channel during charging process and cold heat transfer fluid (CHTF) flowing inner channel during discharging process. A simple numerical method according to conversation of energy, called temperature & thermal resistance iteration method has been developed for the analysis of PCM solidification and melting in the triplex concentric tube. To test the physical validity of the numerical results, an experimental apparatus has been designed and built by which the effect of the inlet temperature and the flow rate of heat transfer fluid (HTF, including HHTF and CHTF) on the thermal energy storage has been studied. Comparison between the numerical predictions and the experimental data shows good agreement. Graphical results including fluid temperature and interface of solid and liquid phase of PCM versus time and axial position, time-wise variation of energy stored/released by the system were presented and discussed.     

Study of contact melting inside isothermally heated vertical cylindrical capsules

Close-contact melting processes of phase change material (PCM) inside vertical cylindrical capsule are studied. PCM are heated by the capsule isothermally at the bottom and side. The theoretical formulas of the melting rate and thickness of liquid layer during the heat transfer process are obtained by analysis, which are convenient for engineering predictions. Finally, the factors that affect melting are discussed, and conclusions are drawn.     

Thermal performance analysis of a flat slab phase change thermal storage unit with liquid-based heat transfer fluid for cooling applications

This paper presents the results of a thermal performance analysis of a phase change thermal storage unit. The unit consists of several parallel flat slabs of phase change material (PCM) with a liquid heat transfer fluid (HTF) flowing along the passages between the slabs. A validated numerical model developed previously to solve the phase change problem in flat slabs was used. An insight is gained into the melting process by examining the temperatures of the HTF nodes, wall nodes and PCM nodes and the heat transfer rates at four phases during melting. The duration of the melting process is defined based on the level of melting completion. The effects of several parameters on the HTF outlet temperature, heat transfer rate and melting time are evaluated through a parametric study to evaluate the effects of the HTF mass flow rate, HTF inlet temperature, gap between slabs, slab dimensions, PCM initial temperature and thermal conductivity of the container on the thermal performance. The results are used to design a phase change thermal storage unit for a refrigerated truck.     

Analysis of contact melting of phase change materials inside a heated rectangular capsule

Close-contact melting processes of phase change material (PCM) inside a horizontal rectangular capsule are studied. The PCM is heated by the capsule at constant heat flux at the top and isothermally at the bottom, and the sides are adiabatic. The theoretical formulas of the dimensionless melting rate and the thickness of the liquid layer during the heat transfer process are obtained by analysing, which is convenient for engineering predictions. Finally, the influences on the melting process are discussed, and conclusions are drawn.     

Thermal and heat transfer characteristics in a latent heat storage system using lauric acid

The thermal and heat transfer characteristics of lauric acid during the melting and solidification processes were determined experimentally in a vertical double pipe energy storage system. In this study, three important subjects were addressed. The first one is temperature distributions and temporal temperature variations in the radial and axial distances in the phase change material (PCM) during phase change processes. The second one is the thermal characteristics of the lauric acid, which include total melting and total solidification times, the nature of heat transfer in melted and solidified PCM and the effect of Reynolds and Stefan numbers as inlet heat transfer fluid (HTF) conditions on the phase transition parameters. The final one is to calculate the heat transfer coefficient and the heat flow rate and also discuss the role of Reynolds and Stefan numbers on the heat transfer parameters. The experimental results proved that the PCM melts and solidifies congruently, and the melting and solidification front moved from the outer wall of the HTF pipe (HTFP) to the inner wall of the PCM container in radial distances as the melting front moved from the top to the bottom of the PCM container in axial distances. However, it was difficult to establish the solidification proceeding at the axial distances in the PCM. Though natural convection in the liquid phase played a dominant role during the melting process due to buoyancy effects, the solidification process was controlled by conduction heat transfer, and it was slowed by the conduction thermal resistance through the solidified layer. The results also indicated that the average heat transfer coefficient and the heat flow rate were affected by varying the Reynolds and Stefan numbers more during the melting process than during the solidification process due to the natural convection effect during the melting process.     

A combined experimental and computational study on the melting behavior of a medium temperature phase change storage material inside shell and tube heat exchanger

A combined experimental and numerical study is performed aiming to understand the role of buoyancy-driven convection during constrained melting of phase change materials (PCMs) inside a shell and tube heat exchanger. A series of experiments is conducted to investigate the effect of increasing the inlet temperature of the heat transfer fluid (HTF) on the charging process (melting) of the PCM. The computations are based on an iterative, finite-volume numerical procedure that incorporates a single-domain enthalpy formulation for simulation of the phase change phenomenon. It was observed from experimental results that the melting front appeared at different times at positions close to the HTF tube and progressing at different rates outwards towards the shell. The computational results show that by increasing the inlet water temperature to 80 °C, the total melting time is decreased to 37%.     

相变蓄热装置内部温度场的理论与实验研究

对螺旋盘管相变蓄热装置性能和相变材料 (PCM)的传热特性开展理论和试验研究,建立相变蓄热装置物理和数学模型,对蓄热温度场进行了数值模拟和实验测试。结果表明 ：自然对流换热对PCM的熔化过程影响很大,当考虑自然对流时,相变蓄热速率加快,相变分层现象明显;实验实测温度与模拟温度相近,说明所建立的模型适用于相变装置内部温度场的模拟。     

On the heat removal characteristics and the analytical model of a thermal energy storage capsule using gelled Glauber's salt as the PCM

An analytical and experimental investigation was performed on a heat removal process of the thermal energy storage (TES) capsule, using gelled Glauber's salt. Transient heat flux at the capsule wall was measured for various cooling conditions. In cases where the initial temperature was lower than the saturation temperature of the phase change material (PCM), numerical analyses were performed, approximating the process by a relaxation phenomenon where crystals grew around crystal nuclei. The results of the numerical solution agreed very well with the experimental results.     

Melting of PCM in a thermal energy storage unit: Numerical investigation and effect of nanoparticle enhancement

The present paper describes the analysis of the melting process in a single vertical shell‐and‐tube latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES), unit and it is directed at understanding the thermal performance of the system. The study is realized using a computational fluid‐dynamic (CFD) model that takes into account of the phase‐change phenomenon by means of the enthalpy method. Fluid flow is fully resolved in the liquid phase‐change material (PCM) in order to elucidate the role of natural convection. The unsteady evolution of the melting front and the velocity and temperature fields is detailed. Temperature profiles are analyzed and compared with experimental data available in the literature. Other relevant quantities are also monitored, including energy stored and heat flux exchanged between PCM and HTF. The results demonstrate that natural convection within PCM and inlet HTF temperature significantly affects the phase‐change process. Thermal enhancement through the dispersion of highly conductive nanoparticles in the base PCM is considered in the second part of the paper. Thermal behavior of the LHTES unit charged with nano‐enhanced PCM is numerically analyzed and compared with the original system configuration. Due to increase of thermal conductivity, augmented thermal performance is observed: melting time is reduced of 15% when nano‐enhanced PCM with particle volume fraction of 4% is adopted. Similar improvements of the heat transfer rate are also detected. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal Performance of a Phase Change Material‐Based Latent Heat Thermal Storage Unit

An experimental analysis is presented to establish the thermal performance of a latent heat thermal storage (LHTS) unit. Paraffin is used as the phase change material (PCM) on the shell side of the shell and tube‐type LHTS unit while water is used as the heat transfer fluid (HTF) flowing through the inner tube. The fluid inlet temperature and the mass flow rate of HTF are varied and the temperature distribution of paraffin in the shell side is measured along the radial and axial direction during melting and solidification process. The total melting time is established for different mass flow rates and fluid inlet temperature of HTF. The motion of the solid–liquid interface of the PCM with time along axial and radial direction of the test unit is critically evaluated. The experimental results indicate that the melting front moves from top to bottom along the axial direction while the solidification front moves only in the radial direction. The total melting time of PCM increases as the mass flow rate and inlet temperature of HTF decreases. A correlation is proposed for the dimensionless melting time in terms of Reynolds number and Stefan number of HTF. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/htj ). DOI 10.1002/htj.21120     

Thermal analysis of void cavity for heat pipe receiver under microgravity

Based on theoretical analysis of PCM (Phase Change Material) solidification process,the model of improved void cavity distribution tending to high temperature region is established.Numerical results are compared with NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) results.Analysis results show that the outer wall temperature,the melting ratio of PCM and the temperature gradient of PCM canister,have great difference in different void cavity distribution.The form of void distribution has a great effect on the process of phase change.Based on simulation results under the model of improved void cavity distribution,phase change heat transfer process in thermal storage container is analyzed.The main goal of the improved designing for PCM canister is to take measures in reducing the concentration distribution of void cavity by adding some foam metal into phase change material.     

Melting in a side heated tall enclosure by a uniformly dissipating heat source

Melting of an organic phase change material (PCM) n-triacontane (C₃₀H₆₂) in a side heated tall enclosure of aspect ratio 10, by a uniformly dissipating heat source has been studied computationally and experimentally. While heat transfer data for melting in enclosures under isothermal wall boundary condition are available in the literature, other boundary conditions, such as constant heat flux often arise in applications of PCM for transient thermal management of electronics. An implicit enthalpy–porosity approach was utilized for computational modeling of the melting process. Experimental visualization of melt front locations was performed. Comparisons between experimental and computational heat transfer data and melt interface locations were good. Fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics during melting suggested that natural convection plays a dominant role during initial stages of melting. At later times, the strength of natural convection diminishes as melting is completed. Correlations of heat transfer rate and melt fraction with time were obtained.     

Exergetic optimization of solar collector and thermal energy storage system

This paper deals with the exergetic optimization of a solar thermal energy system. This consists of a solar collector (SC) and a rectangular water storage tank (ST) that contains a phase change material (PCM) distributed in an assembly of slabs. The study takes into account both conduction and convection heat transfer mode for water in the SC, and also the phase change process for the PCM in the ST. An analytical solution for the melting process in the PCM is also presented. The results of the study are compared with previous experimental data, confirming the accuracy of the model. Results of a numerical case study are presented and discussed.