Convergent and Divergent Shell and Tube TES Partially Filled With PCM and Metal Foam

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Abstract The ongoing European energy crisis and the imperative to reduce carbon emissions have driven the exploration of energy storage systems. This research focuses on latent heat thermal energy storage systems (LTES). LTESs, utilizing phase change materials (PCMs) combined with metal foams, offer advantages over sensible thermal energy storage systems. Metal foams enhance the thermal conductivity of PCMs, creating a system with a fast-absorbing energy zone defined by low thermal resistance. The study investigates a vertical shell and tube geometry with a non-constant internal tube section, filled by a combination of PCM embedded in a metal foam and PCM alone. A variable is introduced to define the partial filling ratio. The Brinkman-Forchheimer-extended Darcy model and enthalpy-porosity theory are employed to analyze heat transfer and phase change processes. Ansys-Fluent provides numerical solutions. Examining natural convection impact on heat transfer, the study explores the effects of the inclination angle variation inside the shell and tube. Numerical simulations report melting time, average temperature, and specific energy storage rate. Results demonstrate enhanced heat transfer in LTES with metal foam and PCM especially in converging tube cases. The findings demonstrate that the convergent configuration with s = 1/2, in the case with an inclination angle of 10°, achieves maximum stored energy 50% faster than the identical configuration without a section variation.