CFD simulation for heat transfer enhancement in phase change materials

Abstract

In this research work, a two dimensional CFD approach is presented to analyze the heat transfer phenomenon in Phase Change Materials (PCM). In this research study a rectangular shell type heat exchanger filled with PCM is selected and rectangular tubes are inserted to flow a heat transfer fluid. PCM is used as thermal energy storage material to store heat energy and a CFD simulation has been done to analyze the melting process of PCM and optimized the geometry of rectangular tubes inside the shell. Two geometries of rectangular tube, tubes without fins and tubes with four fins, are used to investigate the effect of geometry on heat transfer and melting of PCM. In this research work, CFD approach based on enthalpy porosity model is used for the enhancement of heat transfer and to reduce PCM’s melting time by inserting fins on circumference of the rectangular tubes in which a hot temperature fluid is flowing. The aim of this research is to optimize the geometry for increasing heat transfer in PCM and analyze the results in terms of liquid fraction at an applied temperature of 80 °C on the rectangular tubes. It can be seen from the analysis that fins incorporated to the tubes increases the heat transfer to the PCM and reduce the PCM’s melting time.