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Slanted stages design: a numerical approach to enhancing multiple PCMs melting in a shell and tube unit.

Number: 2446

Author(s) : KOTB A., WANG S.

Summary

The utilization of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) for latent heat storage is a promising solution for addressing the mismatch between energy supply and demand, as well as mitigating issues associated with renewable energy fluctuations. However, the impediment posed by the poor thermal conductivity of PCMs results in a notably low rate of energy storage and recovery. Multiple PCMs with different melting/freezing points can cooperate in a thermal storage system to improve its overall efficiency. The present study numerically investigates the melting performances of a vertically positioned shell and tube heat exchanger unit featuring multiple PCMs arranged in an innovative slanted stages design. A two-dimensional axisymmetric model is developed using COMSOL Multiphysics ® software and validated against published experimental data. A factor representing the slanting degree of each stage is introduced as slanting factor (ε). The results indicate that the optimum slanting factor for shortest melting time is dependent on both the offset PCMs temperature and number of stages. It was found that the slanting degree in a two stages unit has a great effect on the complete melting time at high offset temperature. However, by increasing the number of stages, this effect is found to be significant for lower offset temperatures.

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  • Original title: Slanted stages design: a numerical approach to enhancing multiple PCMs melting in a shell and tube unit.
  • Record ID : 30033119
  • Languages: English
  • Subject: Technology
  • Source: 2024 Purdue Conferences. 20th International Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Conference at Purdue.
  • Publication date: 2024/07/17

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