Abstract
Latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) units utilize phase change materials (PCMs) to effectively store thermal energy and address the challenges of solar energy intermittency and instability. Heat transfer characteristics largely influence the thermofluidic efficiency of the LHTES unit during phase transitions. To improve the typically low heat transfer capabilities of PCMs, high-conductivity metal foams are introduced to enhance bulk heat conduction. This study focuses on optimizing the parameters of composite PCM (CPCM) embedded in the LHTES unit, specifically examining metal foam height (H), angle (θ), and porosity (ϵ), primarily affecting the performance of the CPCM. A series of Taguchi-based orthogonal experiments were conducted to analyze the effects of these variables. The results indicate that metal foam height has a notable influence on the CPCM performance, significantly reducing melt fraction variations caused by changes in cross-sectional geometry. ANOVA analysis shows that the metal foam height contributes 49.02% to improve operational time and 73.62% to enhance melt fraction. The study also identifies the optimal values for the metal foam parameters (H, θ, ϵ) that most effectively improve the LHTES unit thermal performance. Based on various indices, an economic assessment of the optimal configuration further supports the proposed design. Overall, the findings provide a recommended configuration to enhance the LHTES unit performance, contributing valuable insights for developing efficient TES systems and supporting sustainable energy management.
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