Three-dimensional topology-optimized structures for enhanced low-temperature thermal energy storage
In this study, a three-dimensional topologically-optimized structure was developed to enhance the thermal energy storage performance of low-temperature phase change materials. The topology of the structure employed in the thermal energy storage device was developed using COMSOL Multiphysics by maxim...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2024
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/175814 |
| _version_ | 1826116762529169408 |
|---|---|
| author | Lum, Leymus Yong Xiang Wong, Teck Neng Ho, Jin Yao Leong, Kai Choong |
| author2 | School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering |
| author_facet | School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Lum, Leymus Yong Xiang Wong, Teck Neng Ho, Jin Yao Leong, Kai Choong |
| author_sort | Lum, Leymus Yong Xiang |
| collection | NTU |
| description | In this study, a three-dimensional topologically-optimized structure was developed to enhance the thermal energy storage performance of low-temperature phase change materials. The topology of the structure employed in the thermal energy storage device was developed using COMSOL Multiphysics by maximizing heat diffusion in a design domain with a constant temperature plate and adiabatic boundary conditions. The optimized thermal energy storage device was additively manufactured, and its thermal performance was experimentally characterized and compared against two conventional structures as baselines, viz., a plate fin and a pin fin structure. For the first time, this study seeks to determine the sole influence of fin topology on thermal energy storage performance by designing the fins with the same physical parameters, viz., surface area, volume, base plate size, and material. The fin structure volumes were set at approximately 5% of the simulated domain volume and were fabricated by Selective Laser Melting, a metal additive manufacturing technique. The fin structures were experimentally tested under three different constant plate temperatures (65 °C, 70 °C, and 75 °C) using two different phase change materials (RT35 and PEG1000). Their performances were evaluated by comparing the total charging time, melt fraction, and base plate temperature. Our results show that the topology of the optimized fin structure can reduce charging times by up to 9.1% when a constant plate temperature of 65 °C is applied. The topology of the optimized fins also achieved base plate temperatures that were up to 4 °C lower than conventional fins while having a more uniform distribution of heat to the phase change material within the housing. Additionally, by fixing the critical physical parameters of the fin structures, this work also shows that the fin topology plays a significant role in enhancing the melting performance of thermal storage devices. |
| first_indexed | 2024-10-01T04:16:37Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | ntu-10356/175814 |
| institution | Nanyang Technological University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-10-01T04:16:37Z |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ntu-10356/1758142024-05-07T02:50:28Z Three-dimensional topology-optimized structures for enhanced low-temperature thermal energy storage Lum, Leymus Yong Xiang Wong, Teck Neng Ho, Jin Yao Leong, Kai Choong School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Singapore Centre for 3D Printing Engineering Topology optimization Heat conduction In this study, a three-dimensional topologically-optimized structure was developed to enhance the thermal energy storage performance of low-temperature phase change materials. The topology of the structure employed in the thermal energy storage device was developed using COMSOL Multiphysics by maximizing heat diffusion in a design domain with a constant temperature plate and adiabatic boundary conditions. The optimized thermal energy storage device was additively manufactured, and its thermal performance was experimentally characterized and compared against two conventional structures as baselines, viz., a plate fin and a pin fin structure. For the first time, this study seeks to determine the sole influence of fin topology on thermal energy storage performance by designing the fins with the same physical parameters, viz., surface area, volume, base plate size, and material. The fin structure volumes were set at approximately 5% of the simulated domain volume and were fabricated by Selective Laser Melting, a metal additive manufacturing technique. The fin structures were experimentally tested under three different constant plate temperatures (65 °C, 70 °C, and 75 °C) using two different phase change materials (RT35 and PEG1000). Their performances were evaluated by comparing the total charging time, melt fraction, and base plate temperature. Our results show that the topology of the optimized fin structure can reduce charging times by up to 9.1% when a constant plate temperature of 65 °C is applied. The topology of the optimized fins also achieved base plate temperatures that were up to 4 °C lower than conventional fins while having a more uniform distribution of heat to the phase change material within the housing. Additionally, by fixing the critical physical parameters of the fin structures, this work also shows that the fin topology plays a significant role in enhancing the melting performance of thermal storage devices. Nanyang Technological University National Research Foundation (NRF) The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support for this project under Nanyang Technological University Singapore’s Academic Research Fund (AcRF) Tier 1 Grant No. RG 92/18. The SLM 250 equipment used in this research is supported by the National Research Foundation, Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore under its Medium-Sized Centre funding scheme. 2024-05-07T02:50:28Z 2024-05-07T02:50:28Z 2024 Journal Article Lum, L. Y. X., Wong, T. N., Ho, J. Y. & Leong, K. C. (2024). Three-dimensional topology-optimized structures for enhanced low-temperature thermal energy storage. Applied Energy, 362, 123001-. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.123001 0306-2619 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/175814 10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.123001 2-s2.0-85187954037 362 123001 en RG 92/18 Applied Energy © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
| spellingShingle | Engineering Topology optimization Heat conduction Lum, Leymus Yong Xiang Wong, Teck Neng Ho, Jin Yao Leong, Kai Choong Three-dimensional topology-optimized structures for enhanced low-temperature thermal energy storage |
| title | Three-dimensional topology-optimized structures for enhanced low-temperature thermal energy storage |
| title_full | Three-dimensional topology-optimized structures for enhanced low-temperature thermal energy storage |
| title_fullStr | Three-dimensional topology-optimized structures for enhanced low-temperature thermal energy storage |
| title_full_unstemmed | Three-dimensional topology-optimized structures for enhanced low-temperature thermal energy storage |
| title_short | Three-dimensional topology-optimized structures for enhanced low-temperature thermal energy storage |
| title_sort | three dimensional topology optimized structures for enhanced low temperature thermal energy storage |
| topic | Engineering Topology optimization Heat conduction |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/175814 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lumleymusyongxiang threedimensionaltopologyoptimizedstructuresforenhancedlowtemperaturethermalenergystorage AT wongteckneng threedimensionaltopologyoptimizedstructuresforenhancedlowtemperaturethermalenergystorage AT hojinyao threedimensionaltopologyoptimizedstructuresforenhancedlowtemperaturethermalenergystorage AT leongkaichoong threedimensionaltopologyoptimizedstructuresforenhancedlowtemperaturethermalenergystorage |