Analytical Solution of Phase Change Heat Transfer in Micro-particles with Convection Boundary

Abstract

The spherical shape phase change material (PCM) particles are wildly used for thermal energy storage applications because they have good thermal storage performance and are easy to move and arrange. In this paper, the phase change processes and heat transfer performance of single PCM particle under convective heat transfer conditions which coupling phase change heat transfer and convective heat transfer have been analyzed. The governing equation with moving boundary which make it nonlinear problem and complex to be solved analytically. The coordinate system transformation method were used to solve the problem to predict the position of moving solid-liquid interface and time needed for phase change. The effects of different parameters (e.g. Biot number, Stefan number, diameter, etc.) on phase change process, moving interface and heat flow have been investigated.