A review on entropy generation in natural and mixed convection heat transfer for energy systems

This paper reviews the second law analysis of thermodynamics in enclosures due to buoyancy-induced flow for energy systems. It defines entropy generation minimization or thermodynamic optimization. In addition, the article summarizes the recent works on entropy generation in buoyancy-induced flows in cavity and channels. Studies on mixed convection were also included in the study. Presentation was performed for flow in porous media and viscous fluid filled media at different shaped enclosures and duct under buoyancy-induced force.     

Analytical solution of heat transfer in a shell-and-tube latent thermal energy storage system

An analytical solution of a latent heat storage unit (LHSU) consisting of a shell-and tube was obtained by using the Exponential Integral Function and the variables separation technique. The working fluid (water) circulating by forced convection inside the inner tube charges and discharges the storage unit. The comparison between analytical predictions and experimental data shows good agreement. Extensive parametric studies were conducted in order to examine the effect of the pertinent parameters (such as natural convection, mass flow rate of HTF, outer tube radius, pipe length etc.) on the melting and solidification processes of paraffin as a PCM. In order to provide guidelines for system performance and design optimisation, unsteady temperature distributions within PCM during melting/solidification, energy stored, position of moving interface and thermal efficiency have been obtained by a series of numerical calculations and represented graphically.     

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.     

Validation of a CFD model for the simulation of heat transfer in a tubes-in-tank PCM storage unit

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was developed for the simulation of a phase change thermal energy storage process in a 100 l cylindrical tank, horizontally placed. The model is validated with experimental data obtained for the same configuration. The cold storage unit was charged using water as the heat transfer medium, flowing inside a horizontal tube bundle, and the selected phase change material (PCM) was microencapsulated slurry in 45% w/w concentration. The mathematical model is based on the three-dimensional transient Navier–Stokes equations with nonlinear temperature dependent thermo-physical properties of the PCM during the phase change range. These properties were experimentally determined using analytical methods. The governing equations were solved using the ANSYS/FLUENT commercial software package. The mathematical model is validated with experimental data for three different flow rates of the heat transfer fluid during the charging process. Bulk temperature, heat transfer rate and amount of energy stored were used as performance indicators. It was found that the PCM bulk temperatures were predicted within 5% of the experimental data. The results have also shown that the total accumulated energy was within 10% of the observed value, and thus it can be concluded that the model predicts the heat transfer inside the storage system with good accuracy.     

Fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics in rectangular microchannels

Experiments were conducted to investigate flow and heat transfer characteristics of water in rectangular microchannels. All tests were performed with deionized water. The flow rate, the pressures, and temperatures at the inlet and outlet were measured. The friction factor, heat flux, and Nusselt number were obtained. The friction factor in the microchannel is lower than the conventional value. That is only 20% to 30% of the convectional value. The critical Reynolds number below which the flow remains laminar in the microchannel is also lower than the conventional value. The Nusselt number in the microchannel is quite different from the conventional value. The Nusselt number for the microchannel is lower than the conventional value when the flow rate is small. As the flow rate through the microchannel is increased, the Nusselt number significantly increases and exceeds the value of Nusselt number for the fully developed flow in the conventional channel. The micro‐scale effect was exhibited. The Nusselt number is also affected by the heat flux. The Nusselt number remains the constant value when the flow rate is small. The Nusselt number increases with the increase in the heat flux when the flow rate is large. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 37(4): 197–207, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/htj.20206     

Method to improve geometry for heat transfer enhancement in PCM composite heat sinks

Use of composite heat sinks (CHS), constructed using a vertical array of ‘fins’ (or elemental composite heat sink, ECHS), made of large latent heat capacity phase change materials (PCM) and highly conductive base material (BM) is a much sought cooling method for portable electronic devices, which are to be kept below a set point temperature (SPT). This paper presents a thermal design procedure for proper sizing of such CHS, for maximizing the energy storage and the time of operation until all of the latent heat storage is exhausted.For a given range of heat flux, q″, and height, A, of the CHS, using a scaling analysis of the governing two dimensional unsteady energy equations, a relation between the critical dimension for the ECHS and the amount of PCM used (?) is determined. For a ?, when the dimensions of the ECHS are less than this critical dimension, all of the PCM completely melts when the CHS reaches the SPT. The results are further validated using appropriate numerical method solutions. A proposed correlation for chosen material properties yields predictions of the critical dimensions within 10% average deviation. However, the thermal design procedure detailed in this paper is valid, in general, for similar finned-CHS configurations, composed of any high latent heat storage PCM and high conductive BM combination.     

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.     

Fluid flow and heat transfer investigations in shell and dimple heat exchangers

Heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics are investigated here using experimental and analytical techniques for a dimple plate heat exchanger. The analysis uses the log mean temperature difference method (LMTD) in all its calculations. Whilest the shell side flow highly resembles the flow over a rough or wavy plate, the tube side passage in these represents the flow over short hexagonal tube banks with the flowing across the sectional areas between the hexagons having the shape of a benzene ring. Local and global experimental measurements are carried out around the heat exchanger. Furthermore, analytical models for both sides of the heat exchanger were obtained from the literature. Reasonable cross match between experimental and analytical results could be obtained. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Heat transfer enhancement by metal screens and metal spheres in phase change energy storage systems

This study focuses on heat transfer enhancement in double pipe energy storage system. Enhancement is achieved by use of metal screens/spheres placed inside the phase change material (PCM), which is paraffin wax and results in increasing the effective thermal conductivity of the combined media of PCM and metal screens/spheres. The experiments are conducted as a function of the diameter and number of spheres inserted in the phase change material. Also, the experiments investigate the effect of increasing the temperature of the heat transfer fluid (HTF). Results are presented in terms of variations in the PCM Nusselt number and the melting Fourier number. Results indicate three-fold decrease in the Fourier number and similar increase in the Nusselt number. Replacing 2-volume percentage of the wax material by the metal spheres results in this large enhancement.     

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.     

Phase change and heat transfer characteristics of a eutectic mixture of palmitic and stearic acids as PCM in a latent heat storage system

The phase change and heat transfer characteristics of a eutectic mixture of palmitic and stearic acids as phase change material (PCM) during the melting and solidification processes were determined experimentally in a vertical two concentric pipes energy storage system. This study deals with three important subjects. First is determination of the eutectic composition ratio of the palmitic acid (PA) and stearic acid (SA) binary system and measurement of its thermophysical properties by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Second is establishment of the phase transition characteristics of the mixture, such as the total melting and solidification temperatures and times, the heat transfer modes in the melted and solidified PCM and the effect of Reynolds and Stefan numbers as initial heat transfer fluid (HTF) conditions on the phase transition behaviors. Third is calculation of the heat transfer coefficients between the outside wall of the HTF pipe and the PCM, the heat recovery rates and heat fractions during the phase change processes of the mixture and also discussion of the effect of the inlet HTF parameters on these characteristics. The DSC results showed that the PA–SA binary system in the mixture ratio of 64.2:35.8 wt% forms a eutectic, which melts at 52.3 °C and has a latent heat of 181.7 J g⁻¹, and thus, these properties make it a suitable PCM for passive solar space heating and domestic water heating applications with respect to climate conditions. The experimental results also indicated that the eutectic mixture of PA–SA encapsulated in the annulus of concentric double pipes has good phase change and heat transfer characteristics during the melting and solidification processes, and it is an attractive candidate as a potential PCM for heat storage in latent heat thermal energy storage systems.     

Correlations for natural convection heat transfer in two-layer fluids with internal heat generation

Two simple semiempirical correlations for an estimate of heat transfer in horizontal layers of superposed immiscible fluids with internal heat sources are suggested. Different boundary conditions are considered. The predicted results are compared with the known experimental correlations. The results are of interest to post-accident heat removal in fast and light water reactors.     

Experimental assessment of heat storage properties and heat transfer characteristics of a phase change material slurry for air conditioning applications

A new microencapsulated phase change material slurry based on microencapsulated Rubitherm RT6 at high concentration (45% w/w) was tested. Some heat storage properties and heat transfer characteristics have been experimentally investigated in order to assess its suitability for the integration into a low temperature heat storage system for solar air conditioning applications. DSC tests were conducted to evaluate the cold storage capacity and phase change temperature range. A phase change interval of approximately 3 °C and a hysteresis behaviour of the enthalpy were identified. An experimental set-up was built in order to quantify the natural convection heat transfer occurring from a vertical helically coiled tube immersed in the phase change material slurry. First, tests were carried out using water in order to obtain natural convection heat transfer correlations. Then a comparison was conducted with the results obtained for the phase change material slurry. It was found that the values of the heat transfer coefficient for the phase change material slurry were higher than for water, under identical temperature conditions inside the phase change interval.     

The novel use of phase change materials in refrigeration plant. Part 3: PCM for control and energy savings

Phase change materials (PCMs) have been recognized as energy storage tanks since the 1980s. The ‘tank’ has been introduced into the refrigeration system to enable its capacitance to take account of fluctuations in the daily cooling load. However, this part of the paper will present a novel control purpose of using PCM in refrigeration systems. The novel application of PCMs in refrigeration systems at different positions in the refrigeration cycle circuit with a shell and tube structure has been investigated extensively by the novel mathematical model presented in part 2 of the paper. The results show that for energy savings, PCMs at different positions give coefficient of performances (COPs) up to 8% through lowering the sub-cooling. PCMs also improve the system COPs up to 4% and 7% for the thermostatic expansion valve (TEV) and orifice systems, respectively, by minimizing the superheat. Further benefits such as system stabilization were also observed in this investigation.     

Time and spatial heat transfer performance around an isothermally heated sphere placed in a uniform, downwardly directed flow (in relation to the enhancement of latent heat storage rate in a spherical capsule)

The aim of this study is to reveal the temporal and spatial heat transfer performance of an isothermally heated sphere placed in a uniform, downwardly directed flow using a micro-foil heat flow sensor (HFS). A HFS, whose response time is about 0.02 s, was pasted on the surface of a heated copper sphere. Experiments were carried out using air with a Grashof number of 3.3 × 10⁵ and with several Reynolds numbers (Re) up to 1800. Three flow patterns appeared: a chaotic flow at Re<240; a two-dimensional steady separated flow at 240 Re<500, and a three-dimensional unsteady separated flow at Re 500. In addition, the instantaneous and time-averaged heat transfer performance around the sphere in each of the three regions was clarified. Next, enhancement of the latent heat storage rate of a solid phase change material (PCM) in a spherical capsule was performed. The flow around the spherical capsule, in which the solid PCM was filled and placed in a heated, upwardly directed flow, is the approximate adverse flow phenomenon around the heated sphere which was placed in a downwardly directed flow. In other words, the buoyant flow and the forced flow are in the opposite directions in these two cases. Tests of latent heat storage were run for two Reynolds numbers which represented different flow characteristics in the heat transfer experiments, Re=150 and 1800. Furthermore, copper plates were inserted into the solid PCM, of which thermal conductivity was considerably low, to enhance the latent heat storage rate for the two Reynolds number flows.     

相变蓄冷装置内传热及相变特性研究

建立了三种不同蓄冷球球径堆叠方式的相变蓄冷装置模型,对其进行了数值模拟以研究其内部传热及相变特性。结果表明：随着流速的提高、蓄冷球直径的减小,蓄冷结束后三种方案中装置内蓄冷球的凝固率提升显著;双球径方案与单球径方案装置内蓄冷球凝固率随时间变化的规律在蓄冷过程初段相类似,但两方案中相同球径部分蓄冷球相变结束,双球径方案中发生相变的蓄冷球由大直径转变为小直径时,其凝固率随时间变化的速度逐渐超过单球径方案。该研究可为相变蓄冷装置的实际设计及性能优化提供参考     

A three-dimensional conjugate model with realistic boundary conditions for flow and heat transfer in an industry scale hydrothermal autoclave

This paper presents a conjugate heat transfer model for industry size hydrothermal autoclaves. The electric heating on the wall outside surfaces is represented by constant heat fluxes. The circumferential heat flux deviation is introduced for the asymmetric factors from the surroundings. The results indicate that the temperature at the solution/wall interface is far from uniform. Circumferential temperature deviation is large enough to establish an asymmetric flow. To accurately simulate flows in industry autoclaves, one needs to use the conjugate model. The growth environment in current industry autoclaves, however, can be improved by establishing a uniform temperature on the wall/solution interface.     

Corrosion of metal containers for use in PCM energy storage

In recent years, thermal energy storage (TES) systems using phase change materials (PCM) have been widely studied and developed to be applied as solar energy storage units for residential heating and cooling. These systems performance is based on the latent heat due to PCM phase change, a high energy density that can be stored or released depending on the needs. PCM are normally encapsulated in containers, hence the compatibility of the container material with the PCM has to be considered in order to design a resistant container. Therefore, the main aim of this paper is to study the corrosion effects when putting in contact five selected metals (aluminium, copper, carbon steel, stainless steel 304 and stainless steel 316) with four different PCM (one inorganic mixture, one ester and two fatty acid eutectics) to be used in comfort building applications. Results showed corrosion on aluminium specimens. Hence caution must be taken when selecting it as an inorganic salt container. Despite copper has a corrosion rate range of 6–10 mg/cm² yr in the two fatty acid formulations tested, it could be used as container. Stainless steel 316 and stainless steel 304 showed great corrosion resistance (0–1 mg/cm² yr) and its use would totally be recommended with any of the studied PCM.     

Convective flow and heat transfer in a tall porous cavity side-cooled with temperature profile

Natural convection in an air-filled (Prandtl number = 0.7) porous cavity with profiled side cooling and constant bottom heating is investigated over the Rayleigh number range of 1×10⁴ to 1×10⁸ at two Darcy numbers: 1×10^-4 and 1×10^-6. The aspect ratio based on cavity height was varied from 0.5 to 0.1 to investigate penetration length according to linear or sinusoidal temperature profile. The general non-Darcy model adopted in this work was validated against experimental and theoretical results in the literature and Nusselt number was predicted within less than 3% in the worst case. The effect of left wall imposed temperature profile was investigated in detail. Different convective regimes were observed depending on the imposed profile. An active region was found to take place with the linear temperature profile and with extent proportional to Rayleigh number as predicted by scale analysis.     

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.