Phase Change Material numerical simulation: enthalpy-porosity model validation against liquid fraction data from a computed tomograph

Abstract

Nowadays, Latent Thermal Energy Storage systems (LTESs) are becoming the key enabling technology for the achievement of the 2050 EU targets on energy savings and CO2 emission reduction. LTESs are based on Phase Change Materials (PCMs), which, during the liquid-solid phase change, can store and release a great amount of thermal energy compared to sensible systems. Several studies have already been conducted to properly design LTESs based on PCMs and many of those aimed at developing reliable numerical tools. The main way to model the phase change with a CFD approach is through the use of the enthalpyporosity method, which has already been successfully validated in several articles, especially against the average PCM temperature. However, due to the experimental complexity, the liquid fraction evolution is hard to be measured and monitored and only symmetrical systems could have been tested so far. Computed Tomography (CT) can become a strong and reliable tool to experimentally evaluate the liquid fraction profile during either the melting, and solidification process in real geometries becoming extremely useful to validate the numerical models. In the present study, a first attempt to combine the described experimental-numerical approach is proposed: an enthalpy-porosity model was developed and validated against liquid fraction data from a computed tomography system. The liquid fraction profile of an ice cylinder melting at ambient temperature was measured using the CT and then compared against the numerical results. The results show the promising capabilities of the proposed method.