Simulation Study of Solidification in the Shell-And-Tube Energy Storage System with a Novel Dual-PCM Configuration
This study proposes a novel dual-PCM configuration with outstanding solidification response in a horizontal shell-and-tube energy storage system. To demonstrate that the proposed PCM configuration is superior in its thermal responses, results from a range of numerical simulations are presented and c...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/3/832 |
| _version_ | 1797488211979665408 |
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| author | Moslem Mozafari Ann Lee Shaokoon Cheng |
| author_facet | Moslem Mozafari Ann Lee Shaokoon Cheng |
| author_sort | Moslem Mozafari |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study proposes a novel dual-PCM configuration with outstanding solidification response in a horizontal shell-and-tube energy storage system. To demonstrate that the proposed PCM configuration is superior in its thermal responses, results from a range of numerical simulations are presented and compared between different configurations of dual-PCM. As the melting/solidus point is a crucial factor for the solidification rate, dual PCMs are chosen such that the average of their melting point is equal to the melting point of the single-PCM in the reference case. Additionally, equal-area sectors are considered for all cases to ensure the same quantities of PCMs are compared. The temporal liquid fraction and temperature contours reveal that solidification is delayed in the upper half of the system due to strong natural convection motions. Therefore, a dual-PCM configuration is offered to improve the solidification rate in this region and accelerate the full solidification process. Results show that placing a PCM with a lower solidus point in the lower half or an annulus-shaped zone around the cold tube can save the full recovery time up to 8.51% and 9.36%, respectively. The integration of these two strategies results in a novel and optimum design that saves the solidification time up to 15.09%. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:58:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dceb7117319a4bf78c34111464957050 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:58:50Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-dceb7117319a4bf78c341114649570502023-11-23T16:20:38ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732022-01-0115383210.3390/en15030832Simulation Study of Solidification in the Shell-And-Tube Energy Storage System with a Novel Dual-PCM ConfigurationMoslem Mozafari0Ann Lee1Shaokoon Cheng2School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, AustraliaSchool of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, AustraliaSchool of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, AustraliaThis study proposes a novel dual-PCM configuration with outstanding solidification response in a horizontal shell-and-tube energy storage system. To demonstrate that the proposed PCM configuration is superior in its thermal responses, results from a range of numerical simulations are presented and compared between different configurations of dual-PCM. As the melting/solidus point is a crucial factor for the solidification rate, dual PCMs are chosen such that the average of their melting point is equal to the melting point of the single-PCM in the reference case. Additionally, equal-area sectors are considered for all cases to ensure the same quantities of PCMs are compared. The temporal liquid fraction and temperature contours reveal that solidification is delayed in the upper half of the system due to strong natural convection motions. Therefore, a dual-PCM configuration is offered to improve the solidification rate in this region and accelerate the full solidification process. Results show that placing a PCM with a lower solidus point in the lower half or an annulus-shaped zone around the cold tube can save the full recovery time up to 8.51% and 9.36%, respectively. The integration of these two strategies results in a novel and optimum design that saves the solidification time up to 15.09%.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/3/832phase change materialenergy storagedual-PCMsolidificationheat exchangernumerical |
| spellingShingle | Moslem Mozafari Ann Lee Shaokoon Cheng Simulation Study of Solidification in the Shell-And-Tube Energy Storage System with a Novel Dual-PCM Configuration Energies phase change material energy storage dual-PCM solidification heat exchanger numerical |
| title | Simulation Study of Solidification in the Shell-And-Tube Energy Storage System with a Novel Dual-PCM Configuration |
| title_full | Simulation Study of Solidification in the Shell-And-Tube Energy Storage System with a Novel Dual-PCM Configuration |
| title_fullStr | Simulation Study of Solidification in the Shell-And-Tube Energy Storage System with a Novel Dual-PCM Configuration |
| title_full_unstemmed | Simulation Study of Solidification in the Shell-And-Tube Energy Storage System with a Novel Dual-PCM Configuration |
| title_short | Simulation Study of Solidification in the Shell-And-Tube Energy Storage System with a Novel Dual-PCM Configuration |
| title_sort | simulation study of solidification in the shell and tube energy storage system with a novel dual pcm configuration |
| topic | phase change material energy storage dual-PCM solidification heat exchanger numerical |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/3/832 |
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