Abstract
In this study, fractal net fins were introduced to improve the melting performance of a thermal energy storage unit. A transient model for melting heat transfer for phase change material (PCM) was presented and numerically analyzed, to study the melting performance in a thermal energy storage unit using fractal net fins. The melting phase change process was modelled using the apparent heat capacity method. The evolutions of temperature and the liquid fraction in the thermal energy storage unit were investigated and discussed. The effects of the length and width ratios of the fractal net on melting performance were analyzed to obtain the optimal fin configuration. The results indicated that the fractal net fins significantly enhanced the melting heat transfer performance of the PCM in a thermal energy storage unit. The fractal net fins configuration was optimal when the length and width ratios of the fractal net were 0.5. The temperature response at the corner points of the fractal net fins was faster than that in the central points.
Highlights
In recent years, thermal energy storage systems have become crucial in handling energy supply imbalances and realizing the sustainable utilization of energy
Owing to the highly non-linear characteristics of the solid–liquid or liquid–solid phase transition processes caused by the complicated solid–liquid interface movement, it is important to fully understand the solid–liquid or liquid–solid phase change heat transfer processes
This paper aims to enhance melting heat transfer in a thermal energy storage unit by the use of fractal net fins
Summary
Thermal energy storage systems have become crucial in handling energy supply imbalances and realizing the sustainable utilization of energy. Thermal energy storage technology allows excess thermal energy produced at one time to be made available for use at a later time; it has been widely applied in the areas of electronics cooling [1,2], waste heat utilization [3], chemical processing [4], biomedical engineering [5,6], and so forth. Some renewable energies can be stored in the form of thermal energy for sustainable use. The latent heat storage system with phase change material (PCM) is regarded as a promising technology, because it absorbs large amounts of heat at an almost constant temperature. The PCM continues to absorb heat without a significant rise in temperature until all the material is transformed to the liquid phase. Owing to the highly non-linear characteristics of the solid–liquid or liquid–solid phase transition processes caused by the complicated solid–liquid interface movement, it is important to fully understand the solid–liquid or liquid–solid phase change heat transfer processes
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