Numerical study for solidification of water inside a storage tank considering copper oxide nanoparticles

Abstract

In this study, for improving the rate of freezing nano-sized material with different diameter has been dispersed in to water. The geometry of tank has two cold surfaces with circular and wavy shapes and two insulated walls were applied. Also, two inclined fins were connected to circular surface which helps the expedition of freezing. Finite element approach based on Galerkin discretization was applied for solving the energy equation and concentration of solid PCM. The velocity equations were not involved in model because of low impact of gravity force. With start of process, ice front moves from two sides to middle regions. The solidification rate improves around 38.42% with adding nanoparticles. Augmenting the fraction of nano-powders makes the period to decline about 12.04%. With increase of size of powders at first needed time declines around 11.4% then it augments around 25.23%.