Impact of nano-powders on conduction mechanism during solidification through cold storage tank

Abstract

In this article, numerical modeling with the aim of decreasing the solidification time is presented. The solidification process is primarily influenced by conduction, leading to the application of two techniques aimed at enhancing this mechanism: the install of fins and the addition of nano-powders. Various shapes and fractions of alumina nanoparticles are introduced into the H2O to accelerate the solidification. To predict the properties of the nanoparticle-infused mixture, single-phase formulations are employed. The Finite Element Method (FEM) is then hired to model the system, with an adaptive grid implemented to enhance accuracy. Validation against previous works demonstrates the capability of the developed code for the present study. The incorporation of nanoparticles results in a significant 32.7 % increase in the freezing rate, highlighting the effectiveness of this approach. Additionally, altering the shape of the nanoparticles can further increase the process rate by approximately 10.73 %. The transition from a water-based system to one infused with nanomaterials leads to a notable decrement in freezing time, from 957.64 s to 6447.35 s. These outputs emphasize the potential of nanomaterial-enhanced cold energy storage systems to significantly improve efficiency and performance. In summary, the study showcases the effectiveness of numerical simulation in optimizing cold energy saving processes through the strategic utilization of nanoparticles.