Convection-based model for a PCM vertical storage unit

This paper presents a two-dimensional axi-symmetrical model for the formulation of the problem of fusion of PCM around a vertical cylinder in the presence of natural convection. The basic equations of mass, momentum and energy were formulated in terms of the vorticity and the stream function. The numerical predictions were compared with available experimental results indicating good agreement. Additional results show the effects of the geometrical and operational parameters on the solid–liquid interface, stream function, energy stored and melt mass fraction. The model was extended to produce charts and correlations for the mean heat transfer rate, total solidification (or fusion) time in terms of the geometrical parameter, the modified Rayleigh number and the Stefan number. These charts and correlations are helpful in engineering design of PCM storage units. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.     

潜热储热系统强化传热研究进展

近年来,潜热储热系统在太阳能和工业废能的利用中发挥着极其重要的作用,因此用于潜热储热的相变材料受到普遍关注.文章对国内外潜热储热系统众多强化传热技术进行了综述与讨论.     

Optimization simulation of tube-type phase change heat storage unit

列管式换热器具有结构牢固、传热面积大、材料使用适应性强等优点,是相变储热领域应用较为广泛的一种换热器。但由于大部分相变材料热导率偏低,导致换热器的换热性能较差,因此提高相变储热器的储热效率,是目前国内外研究的热点。本工作对列管式相变储热单元进行了二维非稳态模拟优化,研究了换热器结构、翅片数目及中心距3种参数对储热性能的影响,并探讨了熔化过程中相变材料的温度和液相率变化趋势。研究结果表明,与圆形换热器结构相比,正方形换热器储热性能更优;相比于无翅片的储热换热器,添加翅片后储热性能得到显著提升,相变材料熔化时间缩短66%;对中心距而言,在一定范围内,随中心距减小进出口降压增大,但储热性能相应提高。     

Enrichment of heat transfer in a latent heat storage unit using longitudinal fins

The charging and discharging rates of a phase change material (PCM) in a horizontal latent heat storage unit (LHSU) is largely influenced by the lower thermal conductivity of the PCM. In the present research, four different configurations of longitudinal fins are proposed to augment the heat transfer in horizontal shell and tube type LHSUs. Numerical investigations are reported to establish the thermal performance augmentation with rectangular, triangular, and Y‐shaped (bifurcated) fins. From the results, it has been inferred that all fin configurations provide a faster charging and discharging rate. In the present set of geometric dimensions of LHSU considered, a reduction in charging time of 68.71% is evaluated for case III (three rectangular fins with one fin positioned in the area of the heat transfer fluid [HTF] surface) and case V (two bifurcated fins with one fin positioned in the area of the HTF surface). Moreover, overall cycle (charging + discharging) time is reduced by 58.3% for case III. Employment of fins results in a faster rate of absorption and extraction of energy from the PCM.     

基于等效比热的MPCMs平板层流传热理论模型

采用边界层的能量积分方程法,基于等效比热模型,对微胶囊相变悬浮液(Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials slurry, MPCMs)的热边界层进行理论建模,推导出了MPCMs外掠平板换热加热等壁温边界条件层流工况下,包含斯蒂芬数的MPCMs的对流换热关联式,然后与数值模拟结果进行比较。结果表明,对流传热系数的解析解与数值模拟结果趋势上相一致,修正后的解析解与数值模拟结果高度吻合。     

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.     

Experimental study of natural convection heat transfer in a microencapsulated phase change material slurry

A new microencapsulated PCM (Phase Change Material) slurry (MEPCS) at high concentration (45% w/w) was developed based on microencapsulated Rubitherm RT6. Its heat storage and heat transfer characteristics have been experimentally investigated in order to assess its suitability for integration into a low temperature heat storage system for solar air conditioning applications. Differential scanning calorimetry tests have been conducted to evaluate the cold storage capacity and phase change temperature range. An experimental setup was built in order to quantify the natural convection heat transfer occurring from a vertical helically coiled tube immersed in the MEPCS. First, tests were carried out using water in order to obtain natural convection heat transfer correlations and then a comparison was made with the results obtained for the MEPCS. It was found that inside the phase change interval the values of the heat transfer coefficient for the MEPCS were significantly higher than for water, under identical temperature conditions.     

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.     

A model for latent heat energy storage systems

In this study, a theoretical approach is proposed for the prediction of time and temperature during the heat charge and discharge in the latent heat storage of phase changed materials (PCM). By the use of the average values of the mean specific heat capacities for the phase‐changed materials, analytical solutions are obtained and compared with the available experimental data in the literature. It is shown that decreasing the entry temperature of the working fluid from ?4 to ?15°C has a very dominant and strong effect on the PCM solidification time. The effect of the working fluid flow rate and the material of PCM capsules on the time for complete solidification and total charging is also investigated. The agreement between the present theoretical model results and the experimental data related to the cooling using small spheres and the heat storage using rectangle containers is very good. The largest difference between the present results and the experimental data becomes about 10% when the fluid temperature approaches the phase change temperature at high temperatures. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Liquid crystals: a new approach for latent heat storage

The development of thermal storage systems adapted to processes in which steam is involved is currently increasing because no cost‐effective solution is available to date. Entailing water condensation and evaporation, isothermal storage under latent heat is the most appropriate approach. The low thermal conductivity of the materials currently in use significantly affects both power density and power generation of the storage system in discharge. In order to solve these drawbacks, the use of liquid crystals as alternative storage materials is proposed because they can absorb/release energy at constant temperature and at the same time keep the ability to flow. In this way, liquid crystals with clearing points close to the saturated steam working temperature and high enthalpy of mesophase‐isotropic liquid transition would be required. The main advantage of using liquid crystals as storage materials is that convection would be the heat transfer mechanism and power would be constant with time during discharge processes. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

管壳式蓄热装置的设计及蓄热单元三维数值模拟与优化

为弥补太阳能间歇性的缺点,设计了管壳式蓄热装置并建立了一个三维的、非稳态的、液态石蜡包含自然对流的相变蓄热装置模型,在该模型中取一个蓄热单元进行模拟研究。蓄热单元为圆柱体,内部放置石蜡,中心位置为传热管,热水通过传热管和传热管上的翅片对石蜡进行加热。对蓄热单元的蓄热过程进行了三维数值模拟,分别分析比较了有无自然对流条件,不同蓄热单元放置,以及增加内外翅片情况下蓄热单元的蓄放热性能,研究结果可为蓄能装置及集成系统的开发提供理论依据。     

Novel insight and numerical analysis of convective heat transfer enhancement with microencapsulated phase change material slurries: laminar flow in a circular tube with constant heat flux

This paper presents a novel insight for the forced convective heat transfer enhancement of microencapsulated phase change material slurries flowing through a circular tube with constant heat flux. The influence of various factors is analyzed in detail by using an effective specific heat capacity model, validated with the results available in the literature. It is found that the conventional Nusselt number correlations for internal flow of single phase fluids are not suitable for accurately describing the heat transfer enhancement with microencapsulated phase change material suspensions, and a modification is introduced that enables evaluation for the convective heat transfer of internal flows.     

Experiment on heat storage characteristic of microencapsulated phase change material slurry

Heat storage experiment by natural convection in rectangular enclosures heated from bottom has been conducted with fluid slurry composed of microencapsulated phase change material (PCM). The microencapsulated PCM is prepared by in-situ polymerization method, where the core materials are composed of several kinds of n-paraffin waxes (mainly nonadecane) and the membrane is a type of melamine resin. Its slurry mixed with water is used in this study, and shows a peak value in the specific heat capacity with latent heat at the temperature of about T=31 °C. The influences of the phase change material on heat storage and the heat transfer process, as well as effects of PCM mass concentration C_m on the microcapsule slurry, temperature of heat storage T_H and a horizontal enclosure height H are also investigated. Transient heat transfer coefficient α, heat storage capacity Q and completion time of heat storage t_c are discussed.     

Three—Dimensional Heat Transfer Analysis for A Thermal Energy Storage Canister

IlltroductionSolar dynamic power modules (SDPM) with phasechange material (PCM) is a vital solution to ensureuninterrupted power supply for low-earth orbitapplication. The advantage of SDPM is its longerlifehme and higher efficiency. Longer lifetime results insubstanhal savings in hardware replacement, launch, andon-orbit installation costs. Because of SDPM's higherefficiency, its solar collection area is only about 25percent of that for a PV system. This would allowspacecraft operatin…     

CFD simulation of hydrodynamics and heat transfer in gas phase ethylene polymerization reactors

The hydrodynamics and temperature of a two-dimensional gas–solid fluidized bed of gas phase olefin polymerization reactor had been studied. A two-fluid Eularian Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model with closure relationships according to the kinetic theory of granular flow has been applied in order to simulate the gas–solid flow. Fluidization regime and gas–solid flow pattern were investigated using three different drag models. Model predictions of bed pressure drop were compared with corresponding experimental data reported in the literature to validate the model. The predicted values were in reasonable agreement with the experimental data. The temperature behavior of fluidized bed with various drag models was investigated. The temperature gradient in the primary section of the bed was much larger than the gradient in other sections and the effect of all drag models on temperature gradient along the bed was approximately similar.     

Numerical simulation of a multi-layer latent heat thermal energy storage system

A computational model for the prediction of the thermal behaviour of a compact multi-layer latent heat storage unit is presented. The model is based on the conservation equations of energy for the phase change material (PCM) and the heat transfer fluid (HTF). Electrical heat sources embedded inside the PCM are used for heat storage (melting) while the flow of an HTF is employed for heat recovery (solidification). Parametric studies are performed to assess the effect of various design parameters and operating conditions on the thermal behaviour of the unit. Results indicate that the average output heat load during the recovery period is strongly dependent on the minimum operating temperature, on the thermal diffusivity of the liquid phase, on the thickness of the PCM layer and on the HTF inlet mass flowrate and temperature. It is, on the other hand, nearly independent of the wall thermal diffusivity and thickness and of the maximum operating temperature. Correlations are proposed for the total energy stored and the output heat load as a function of the design parameters and the operating conditions. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

管壳式相变储能换热器的优化设计

叙述了利用优化设计理论对管壳式相变储能换热器进行优化设计的方法。以该装置的成本为优化目标,储热量,放热时间,传热量,加工和防腐要求作为约束条件,得出了最佳的管子半径,厚度及管子根数,并给出了一个计算实例。     

固-液相变贮能材料的研究进展

固-液相变贮能材料具有贮能密度大、相变温度恒定、体积变化小等优点，已成为能源开发利用和材料科学研究的新热点。综述了固-液相变贮能材料的研究现状，介绍了其分类及各类材料贮能性能，并总结了其应用上的缺陷及解决方法。