Rotation-based heat transfer enhancement for shell-and-tube latent thermal energy storage systems: From mechanisms to applications

Abstract

Latent thermal energy storage (LTES) is an important energy storage technology to mitigate the discrepancy between energy source and energy supply, and it has great application prospects in many areas, such as solar energy utilization, geothermal energy utilization and electricity storage. However, LTES systems suffer from the low thermal conductivity of most phase-change materials (PCMs), threatening their large-scale commercial applications. To tackle this challenge, heat transfer enhancement for LTES systems is critically important and has been widely investigated worldwide. Convectional heat transfer enhancement techniques, including fins, nanoparticles and multiple PCMs, can significantly improve the charging and discharging rates of an LTES system. Recently, rotation-based methods have emerged to provide new routes for the heat transfer enhancement of LTES systems, and many achievements have been obtained by researchers around the world. This study conducted a short review of the mechanisms and applications of three rotation-based heat transfer enhancement methods, aiming to provide deep insights into these novel heat transfer enhancement methods and propel their future development and applications.