| Summary: | In this paper, the convective heat transfer pattern of molten phase change material (mPCM) in a slender rectangular cavity with constant heat flux boundary condition at one side and flow boundary condition at opposite side is numerically investigated. The influences of the Rayleigh number (constant heat flux boundary condition, Ra = 104, 105 and 106), the Reynolds number (flow boundary condition, Re = 1×104, 2×104, 3×104, 4×104 and 5×104) and aspect ratio (AR = 5, 7.5 and 10) on the convective heat transfer mechanisms of the mPCM are analyzed. Several dimensionless parameters are used as quantitative indexes to describe and evaluate the convection and heat transfer process in the cavity. The results show that the convective heat transfer efficiency can be improved by increasing the Ra or Re. With longer length of the cavity in the direction of buoyancy, the internal natural convection heat transfer of mPCM is more intense. Especially, due to different boundary conditions, the heat transfer intensity at two vertical walls of the cavity is different. In addition, the mixing degree of cold and hot fluid in the cavity will also affect the local heat transfer effect at the wall.
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