Effect of Twisted Fin Array in a Triple-Tube Latent Heat Storage System during the Charging Mode

Mohammad Ghalambaz,Jasim M Mahdi,Wahiba Yaïci,Amirhossein Shafaghat,Amir Hossein Eisapour,Pouyan Talebizadeh Sardari,Obai Younis

doi:10.3390/su13052685

Abstract

This study aims to assess the effect of adding twisted fins in a triple-tube heat exchanger used for latent heat storage compared with using straight fins and no fins. In the proposed heat exchanger, phase change material (PCM) is placed between the middle annulus while hot water is passed in the inner tube and outer annulus in a counter-current direction, as a superior method to melt the PCM and store the thermal energy. The behavior of the system was assessed regarding the liquid fraction and temperature distributions as well as charging time and energy storage rate. The results indicate the advantages of adding twisted fins compared with those of using straight fins. The effect of several twisted fins was also studied to discover its effectiveness on the melting rate. The results demonstrate that deployment of four twisted fins reduced the melting time by 18% compared with using the same number of straight fins, and 25% compared with the no-fins case considering a similar PCM mass. Moreover, the melting time for the case of using four straight fins was 8.3% lower than that compared with the no-fins case. By raising the fins’ number from two to four and six, the heat storage rate rose 14.2% and 25.4%, respectively. This study presents the effects of novel configurations of fins in PCM-based thermal energy storage to deliver innovative products toward commercialization, which can be manufactured with additive manufacturing.

Highlights

IntroductionThe paramount significance of thermal energy storage (TES) in sustainable technologies and the mismatch of the renewable energy supply to the energy load demand have led many experts to devote their research works to the development of TES
In each of these cases, the scenario to reach complete melting was assumed to start with solid phase change material (PCM) at an initial temperature (Tint = 288 K) which was below the PCM solidus temperature (Ts = 302K)
The impact of the addition of twisted fins compared with the straight fins and no-fins cases, as well as the number of twisted fins inserted, were studied

Summary

Introduction

The paramount significance of thermal energy storage (TES) in sustainable technologies and the mismatch of the renewable energy supply to the energy load demand have led many experts to devote their research works to the development of TES. A classic example to clarify the advantage of TES is its utilization in solar energy-driven systems. By reducing the temperature fluctuations in the system and storing the excess energy, TES enables the energy supply system to operate at a lower cost [1]. This strategy helps the peak-shaving load, resulting in a lower carbon footprint in energy systems [2]. This strategy helps the peak-shaving load, resulting in a lower carbon footprint in energy systems [2]. 4.0/).

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Results

Conclusion