Parametric optimization of a cesaro fins employed latent heat storage system for melting performance enhancement

Abstract

The large-scale use of sustainable energy necessitates the use of latent heat storage (LHS). This study aims to increase the melting performance of an LHS system by designing and optimizing the cesaro fins. To examine the melting behaviours of PCM (i.e., RT-82) in a finned LHS system, a 2-D melting heat transfer model is developed and numerically solved. As per literature, there is very literature including the NC (Natural Convection) and represents the coordination in fins, nanoparticles and metal foam. So, the impacts of natural convection, fin arrangement, nanoparticles and metal foam are explored for the Fourier number variations from 0.014 to 0.158 at a constant Stefan number of 0.20. The dynamic temperature distribution, as well as the natural convection and fin arrangement, are investigated to determine how phase change material melts over time by considering the non-thermal equilibrium between metal foam and PCM/nanoPCM. The findings illustrate that natural convection has a significant effect on melting behaviours in the LHTES (Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage) system, with a 26.8% increase in melting/charging rate as compared to the situation without NC. The LHTES system with improved fin structure (i.e., Type-3) and increased number of fins (i.e., Type-5) configurations have more uniform temperature distribution and a higher melting rate by increasing the heat transfer cooperation between NC and thermal conduction. Low thermal conductivity causes poor performance in PCM (Phase Change Material) energy storage devices. The melting/charging of PCM in an LHTES system is greatly improved in this study by employing a porous metal foam (i.e., copper metal foam) or nanoparticle (i.e., Cu, CuO and Al2O3). The impact of nanoparticle volume fraction and metal foam porosity on the LHTES system's melting/charging performance is also investigated using the enthalpy-porosity technique. According to the results, PCM's melting/charging time is lowered by 63.4% when nanoparticles are mixed in and incorporated with metal foam for the Fourier number varies from 0.014 to 0.158 at a constant Stefan number of 0.20. PCM melting/charging time decreased when the metal foam porosity decreased or increased in the volume fraction of nanoparticles. High porosity metal foams with low volume fractions of nanoparticles can increase melting performance since it assures minimum PCM volume and increases natural convection.