Enhanced heat transfer analysis of latent functionally thermal fluid

A physical model has been developed to analyze the enhanced heat transfer process of the latent functionally thermal fluid with microencapsulated phase‐change material. The problem is solved by the combination of the finite difference method and the moving heat source method. The calculated results reveal that putting the phase‐change microcapsules into the fluids can enhance the heat transfer capabilities of the mixture. The effects of capsule radius and concentration of particles are numerically predicted. The numerical results provide the theoretical basis for the application and design of the latent functionally thermal fluid. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 33(6): 383–392, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/htj.20025     

Experimental and numerical investigation of thermal energy storage with a finned tube

A latent heat thermal energy storage system using a phase change material (PCM) is an efficient way of storing or releasing a large amount of heat during melting or solidification. It has been determined that the shell‐and‐tube type heat exchanger is the most promising device as a latent heat system that requires high efficiency for a minimum volume. In this type of heat exchanger, the PCM fills the annular shell space around the finned tube while the heat transfer fluid flows within the tube. One of the methods used for increasing the rate of energy storage is to increase the heat transfer surface area by employing finned surfaces. In this study, energy storage by phase change around a radially finned tube is investigated numerically and experimentally. The solution of the system consists of the solving governing equations for the heat transfer fluid (HTF), pipe wall and phase change material. Numerical simulations are performed to investigate the effect of several fin parameters (fin spacing and fin diameter) and flow parameter (Re number and inlet temperature of HTF) and compare with experimental results. The effect of each variable on energy storage and amount of solidification are presented graphically. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An experimental and numerical investigation of heat transfer during technical grade paraffin melting and solidification in a shell-and-tube latent thermal energy storage unit

The latent thermal energy storage system of the shell-and-tube type during charging and discharging has been analysed in this paper. An experimental and numerical investigation of transient forced convective heat transfer between the heat transfer fluid (HTF) with moderate Prandtl numbers and the tube wall, heat conduction through the wall and solid–liquid phase change of the phase change material (PCM), based on the enthalpy formulation, has been presented. A fully implicit two-dimensional control volume Fortran computer code, with algorithm for non-isothermal phase transition, has been developed for the solution of the corresponding mathematical model. The comparison between numerical predictions and experimental data shows good agreement for both paraffin non-isothermal melting and isothermal solidification. In order to provide guidelines for system performance and design optimisation, unsteady temperature distributions of the HTF, tube wall and the PCM have been obtained by a series of numerical calculations for various HTF working conditions and various geometric parameters, and the thermal behaviour of the latent thermal energy storage unit during charging and discharging has been simulated.     

螺旋盘管式相变储热单元储热性能

以石蜡作为相变材料,制作了内通流体螺旋盘管结构的相变储热单元。在对储热单元储热过程进行传热分析的基础上,利用实验手段对储热单元在不同工况下的储热性能进行了研究。通过对其储热过程中相变材料相变过程的分析,提出储热器设计的优化方案。利用实验数据得到其准则关联式,为其在工程中的应用提供了依据。     

蓄热式管壳换热器传热特性研究

针对热电联产机组供热期发电负荷受供热量限制,机组调峰能力下降、电力系统弃风弃光现象严重的问题,设计了一种新型蓄热式管壳换热器.利用相变材料蓄/放热过程中温度接近恒定、释放潜热量大等优点,选取石蜡为相交材料,换热器相交区作为换热单元,采用控制变量法,针对传热流体流速、相变材料导热系数及相变层厚度等关键因素,对换热单元的蓄...     

板式相变贮能换热器传热模型和热性能分析

建立了板式相变贮能换热器的无量纲传热模型。它对流体入口流量、入口温度随时间变化情况和需考虑入口效应及添加肋片的情况均适用。模型解和文献准稳态解吻合。作为算例,藉此模型从各时刻的流体温度、相变界面随空间的分布情况和相变蓄热比、相变传热效率、传热系数、完全相变截面位置随时间的变化情况六个角度分析了一板式相变贮能换热器的相变传热性能。该模型可为板式相变贮能换热器的结构优化设计和热性能分析提供帮助。     

Review on solar thermal energy storage technologies and their geometrical configurations

Because of the unstable and intermittent nature of solar energy availability, a thermal energy storage system is required to integrate with the collectors to store thermal energy and retrieve it whenever it is required. Thermal energy storage not only eliminates the discrepancy between energy supply and demand but also increases the performance and reliability of energy systems and plays a crucial role in energy conservation. Under this paper, different thermal energy storage methods, heat transfer enhancement techniques, storage materials, heat transfer fluids, and geometrical configurations are discussed. A comparative assessment of various thermal energy storage methods is also presented. Sensible heat storage involves storing thermal energy within the storage medium by increasing temperature without undergoing any phase transformation, whereas latent heat storage involves storing thermal energy within the material during the transition phase. Combined thermal energy storage is the novel approach to store thermal energy by combining both sensible and latent storage. Based on the literature review, it was found that most of the researchers carried out their work on sensible and latent storage systems with the different storage media and heat transfer fluids. Limited work on a combined sensible-latent heat thermal energy storage system with different storage materials and heat transfer fluids was carried out so far. Further, combined sensible and latent heat storage systems are reported to have a promising approach, as it reduces the cost and increases the energy storage with a stabilized outflow of temperature from the system. The studies discussed and presented in this paper may be helpful to carry out further research in this area.     

Review on storage materials and thermal performance enhancement techniques for high temperature phase change thermal storage systems

Designing a cost-effective phase change thermal storage system involves two challenging aspects: one is to select a suitable storage material and the other is to increase the heat transfer between the storage material and the heat transfer fluid as the performance of the system is limited by the poor thermal conductivity of the latent heat storage material. When used for storing energy in concentrated solar thermal power plants, the solar field operation temperature will determine the PCM melting temperature selection. This paper reviews concentrated solar thermal power plants that are currently operating and under construction. It also reviews phase change materials with melting temperatures above 300 °C, which potentially can be used as energy storage media in these plants. In addition, various techniques employed to enhance the thermal performance of high temperature phase change thermal storage systems have been reviewed and discussed. This review aims to provide the necessary information for further research in the development of cost-effective high temperature phase change thermal storage systems.     

Phase change microcapsules in thermal Energy applications:A critical reviewCSCD

Phase change microcapsules can carry large amounts of heat and be dispersed into other mediums either as a solid composite or as slurry fluids without changes to their appearance or fluidity. These two standout features make phase change microcapsules ideal for use in thermal energy applications to enhance the efficiency of energy utilisation. This review paper includes methods used for the encapsulation of phase change materials, especially the method suitable for large scale productions, the trends of phase change microcapsule development and their use in thermal energy applications in static and dynamic conditions. The effect of phase change microcapsules on convective heat transfer through addition to thermal fluids as slurries is critically reviewed. The review highlighted that so far the phase change microcapsules used mainly have polymeric shells, which has very low thermal conductivities. Their enhancement in convective heat transfer was demonstrated in locations where the phase change material experiences phase change. The phase change results in the slurries having higher apparent local specific heat capacities and thus higher local heat transfer coefficients. Out of the phase change region, no enhancement is observed from the solid microcapsule particles due to the low specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity of the phase change microcapsules compared to that of water, which is normally used as slurry media in the test. To further the research in this area, phase change microcapsules with higher specific heat capacity, higher thermal conductivity and better shape stability need to be applied.     

Numerical study of nanoencapsulated phase change material inside double pipe heat exchanger

Nanoencapsulated phase change material (NPCM) slurry is a dispersion where the phase change material (PCM) is dispersed in fluid. Compared with fluid, these nanofluids have a higher heat capacity during the phase change and a possible enhancement, as a result of this phase change, in the heat transfer phenomenon. To appreciate the merits, in terms of energy, a numerical study has been carried out with fluid based on NPCM inside double pipe heat exchanger. The numerical simulation results have been validated using experimental heat transfer data. The Reynolds and Nusselt numbers have been determined using thermal conductivity and viscosity evaluated in the same conditions as those in numerical model. The results obtained show an improvement of this energetic criterion at low mass flow rate compared with the base fluid. Analysis of the numerical and analytical results reveal that higher inlet flow rate and NPCM concentration results in higher heat transfer rate. In addition, increasing NPCM slurry temperature decreases its performance due to fast melting of PCM inside the tube.     

Experimental study of the phase change and energy characteristics inside a cylindrical latent heat energy storage system: Part 2 simultaneous charging and discharging

The time mismatch between energy availability and energy demand with solar domestic hot water (SDHW) systems is often solved using energy storage. Energy storage systems typically employ water for thermal energy storage, however, water storage takes up considerable space and weight due to the large volumes required under certain conditions. A latent heat energy storage system (LHESS) may provide a valuable solution to the space and weight issue, while also correcting the energy mismatch by storing energy in phase change materials (PCMs) when it is available, dispensing energy when it is in demand, and acting as a heat exchanger when there is supply and demand simultaneously. PCMs are advantageous as energy storage materials due to their high energy density which reduces the space requirements for energy storage. However, heat transfer problems arise due to the inherently low thermal conductivity of PCMs. Simultaneous charging and discharging has not been addressed in literature making questionable the ability of a LHESS to operate as a heat exchanger during the mode of operation. The main objective of this research is to study the heat transfer processes and phase change behavior of a PCM during simultaneous charging and discharging of a LHESS.In Part 2 of this paper, experiments are performed using a vertical cylindrical LHESS which is charged and discharged simultaneously to replicate latent heat energy storage paired with a SDHW system with simultaneous energy supply and demand. Dodecanoic acid is used as the PCM. Experimental results for simultaneous operations are presented, under various scenarios and flow rates for both the hot and cold heat transfer fluids. The ability of the system to directly transfer heat between the hot and cold heat transfer fluids is studied, and the results found during consecutive, or separate, charging and discharging, presented in Part 1 of this paper, are compared to the results found during simultaneous charging and discharging. It was found that natural convection in the melted PCM clearly provides an advantage towards direct heat exchange between the hot and cold heat transfer fluid; while the low thermal conductivity of solid PCM provides a barrier to this direct energy exchange.     

相变蓄热同心套管传热模型和性能分析

建立了一种简便的相变蓄热同心套管传热模型,用来求解相变材料在相变过程中流体温度和相变界面随时间和向位置的变化规律,模型中考虑了相变材料导热热阻和有效传热面积随时间和位置的变化,适用于流体入口温度和流量随时间变化的情况,计算值与有关文献值吻合,验证了模型的正确性。藉此模型对文献「７」中相变贮能换热器的储、放热性能进行了模拟分析。     

Structure and thermal properties of expanded graphite/paraffin composite phase change material

Different contents of expanded graphite (EG) composite phase change material (PCM) were prepared by the melt mixing method, taking paraffin as the PCM and EG as the supporting material. Phase compositions of EG, paraffin, and EG/paraffin composite were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Microstructures of EG and EG/paraffin composite PCMs with different EG contents were observed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Thermal properties, such as phase-transition temperature and latent heat of the materials, were determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Mass loss and thermal properties after 100 heating cycles were measured. The results show that physical absorption exists between paraffin and EG. EG is beneficial for the PCM composite to reduce leakage of paraffin, decrease the phase change temperature and latent heat, and strengthen the thermal stability. The solid–liquid phase change latent heat of materials is larger than that of the solid–solid one. The heating cycle has little effect on the phase-transition temperature and latent heat.     

Preparation, physical property and thermal physical property of phase change microcapsule slurry and phase change emulsion

Phase change microcapsule slurry and phase change emulsion are two novel two-phase heat transfer fluids. Compared with a conventional single-phase heat transfer fluid such as water, their apparent specific heats in the phase change temperature range are greatly increased. Due to this, the heat transfer ability and energy transport ability can be obviously improved. Therefore, they have many potentially important applications in fields such as heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, refrigeration and heat exchangers. In this paper, a phase change emulsion was prepared by mixing film synthesis, and a phase change microcapsule slurry was prepared by in situ polymerization with polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyethyl methacrylate as encapsulation material, respectively. Physical properties, such as viscosity, diameter and its distribution of microcapsule and emulsion were investigated. The relationship between the concentration of tetradecane and physical properties have been discussed in detail. Meanwhile, the thermal physical properties of these two fluids were determined by DSC. Also, the influence of tetradecane concentration on phase change temperature and phase change heat has been discussed.     

Emulsification of thermal energy storage materials in an immiscible fluid

The problems of thermal energy storage are of major importance in the development of intermittent energy sources and the efficient usage of conventional energy supplies. Utilization of latent heat materials for thermal energy storage has been plagued by the build-up of solids on cooling surfaces and the resulting low heat transfer rates. A novel system has been investigated in order to alleviate these difficulties. Small droplets of latent heat material were suspended in an immiscible heat transfer fluid to form an emulsion. The generation of stable emulsions is an empirical art, for which the selection of surface-active agents and the method of mixing play the key roles. A total of 42 latent heat storage emulsion samples were prepared using a diphenyl compound as the organic phase. Most of the samples were prepared using a high speed mixing apparatus. Several emulsified blends exhibited favourable prolonged storage and cycling behaviour. Estimates based on apparent viscosity measurements indicated that high rates of heat transfer could be obtained with this system. Assuming turbulent flow conditions and 60 per cent salt loading, a value for the mean film coefficient of heat transfer was calculated to be about 1045 J/m² s °C. The concept offers potentially large heat exchanger cost reductions, while retaining 60 per cent of the volume savings attainable in latent heat systems.     

石蜡/膨胀石墨复合相变储热材料的研究

以膨胀石墨为基体,石蜡为相变储热介质,利用膨胀石墨对石蜡良好的吸附性能,制备出了石蜡／膨胀 石墨复合相变储热材料。由于毛细作用力和表面张力的作用,石蜡在固-液相变时,很难从膨胀石墨的微孔中渗 透出来。实验结果表明,石蜡/膨胀石墨复合相变储热材料没有改变膨胀石墨的结构和石蜡的固-液相变温度, 且其结合了石墨高的导热系数和石蜡大的相变潜热,因而储热密度较高,导热性能好。其相变潜热与对应质量 分率下的石蜡相当,储/放热时间比石蜡明显减少。     

Heat transfer behaviour of thermal energy storage components using composite phase change materials

对基于复合相变材料储热单元的储热性能进行了研究。建立了复合材料和储热单元体内部的二维传热模型,考察了复合材料物性和结构尺寸及传热流体操作条件（流体流速）对单元体储热性能的影响,对比了两种不同结构单元体的储热性能,并搭建实验平台进行了实验对比研究。对比结果表明,模型结果与实验结果趋于一致,验证了模型的准确性。复合材料物性和结构尺寸及传热流体操作条件对单元体储热性能有较大的影响。相比较单管储热单元体,同心管储热单元体有着更优的储热特性,在相同的操作条件下,同心管储热单元体的储热、放热时间较单管储热单元体分别减少10%和15%。     

Thermal energy storage properties of a capric acid/stearic acid binary system and a 48# paraffin/liquid paraffin binary system

In this paper, the phase change temperature, latent heat and thermal stability of a capric acid/stearic acid binary system and a 48# paraffin/liquid paraffin binary system were experimentally studied. The experimental results showed that the phase change temperature and phase change latent heat change with the content of the component. The phase change temperatures of binary mixtures change in a wide range, so they can be used in different fields by adjusting the mixing ratio. The phase change latent heat of fatty acid mixtures is higher than that of paraffin mixtures. The thermal stability of fatty acid mixtures is better than that of paraffin mixtures. The mixtures used in the phase change material wall or the phase change material floor as energy storage materials were given in the paper.     

Experimental investigation on heat recovery from diesel engine exhaust using finned shell and tube heat exchanger and thermal storage system

The exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine carries away about 30% of the heat of combustion. The energy available in the exit stream of many energy conversion devices goes as waste, if not utilized properly. The major technical constraint that prevents successful implementation of waste heat recovery is due to its intermittent and time mismatched demand and availability of energy. In the present work, a shell and finned tube heat exchanger integrated with an IC engine setup to extract heat from the exhaust gas and a thermal energy storage tank used to store the excess energy available is investigated in detail. A combined sensible and latent heat storage system is designed, fabricated and tested for thermal energy storage using cylindrical phase change material (PCM) capsules. The performance of the engine with and without heat exchanger is evaluated. It is found that nearly 10–15% of fuel power is stored as heat in the combined storage system, which is available at reasonably higher temperature for suitable application. The performance parameters pertaining to the heat exchanger and the storage tank such as amount of heat recovered, heat lost, charging rate, charging efficiency and percentage energy saved are evaluated and reported in this paper.     

HVAC领域相变贮能研究的现状与进展

总结了相变传热的特点及求解方法 ;相变墙板的研制以及使用效果方面的研究现状 ;相变在供暖、空调系统中的应用 ;相变贮能技术在HVAC中应用的诸多优势。提出了HVAC领域相变贮能技术今后的研究方向。