矩形蓄热单元内石蜡的相变传热特性

为掌握蓄热单元内相变材料(phase change material, PCM)的传热特性,提高相变换热器的传热效率,采用焓-孔隙率模型,利用FLUENT软件对石蜡在矩形蓄热单元内的传热过程进行数值模拟,引入单元液相分数β及无量纲Fo、Ste和Ra分析圆管外不同位置处石蜡的蓄/放热规律及换热流体入口温度不同对石蜡蓄/放热过程的影响规律。结果表明:圆管外石蜡的总体熔化快慢按照上部、左/右部、下部的顺序进行,且上部比其它部分完成熔化所需时间缩短20%以上;放热过程中,圆管外石蜡的总体凝固快慢按照下部、左/右部、上部的顺序进行。矩形壳体内PCM蓄热过程的传热机制由导热逐渐过渡为自然对流。增加换热流体与石蜡之间的温差能显著提高蓄放热效率。通过多项式拟合得到关于β的准则关系式。

Phase change characteristics of paraffin in rectangular storage unit

To study the heat transfer characteristics of phase change material (PCM) in a storage unit and improve the heat transfer efficiency of phase change heat exchanger, the enthalpy-porous media model and FLUENT program were used to carry out a numerical investigation on the heat transfer process of paraffin in a rectangular heat storage unit. The element liquid fraction β and dimensionless Fo, Ste and Ra were introduced to analyze the influences of different positions outside the tube and inlet temperatures of heat transfer fluid on the melting and solidification process of paraffin. The results showed that the paraffin outside the tube was melted in order from the upper to the left/right part, then the lower part. The total melting time of paraffin in upper part was shorten by at least 20% compared with other parts. Conversely, in the heat release process, the paraffin was solidified in order from the lower, the left/right part and the upper part. The heat transfer mechanism in the unit changed gradually from heat conduction to natural convection in the thermal storage process. The efficiency of heat storage and release could be improved significantly by increasing the temperature difference between heat transfer fluid and paraffin. The criterion of β was obtained by polynomial fitting.