Heat Transfer Rate Research Articles

Thermochemical battery prototypes with conductive heat extraction

Thermochemical energy storage is a viable option for large-scale storage of renewable energy. Functional storage systems require a high cycling capacity and an efficient heat extraction unit to guarantee reliable energy storage and subsequent power production. This article investigates the performance of thermochemical battery prototypes that use conductive heat extraction via metallic rods. The thermodynamics and kinetics of the storage material, CaCO3-Al2O3 (20 wt%), used in the prototypes, were studied along with the cyclic carbon dioxide sorption capacity, which was retained at 60 %. The reaction thermodynamics and kinetics of this doped CaCO3 compound are similar to those reported for pure calcium carbonate (ΔHdes = 173 ± 10 kJ.mol−1 CO2 and ΔSdes = 147 ± 9 J.mol−1 CO2·K−1). The two prototypes were constructed using either a stainless-steel rod or a stainless-steel tube with a copper core as conductive heat exchanger. The thermochemical battery prototypes (∼1 kg) cycled >30 times, with thermal charging (calcination) and discharging (carbonation) at ∼900 °C. The storage material is sensitive to the operating conditions of pressure and temperature, which influence the formation of various calcium aluminium oxide compounds that either catalyse or inhibit the cyclic capacity. The carbon dioxide sorption capacity in the prototypes was found to be limited (20 %) and capacity loss was correlated to the temperature distribution through the storage material and limited by the heat transfer rate of the heat extraction system. The heat transfer performance of the stainless-steel rod was inadequate, while the copper core allowed for better system performance.

Mixed Convection Flow of a Casson Fluid Past a Thin Needle

Mixed Convection Flow of a Casson Fluid Past a Thin Needle

Artificial neural networks strategy to analyze the magnetohydrodynamics Casson-Maxwell nanofluid flow through the cone and disc system space

The Casson-Maxwell model is particularly useful for studying viscoplastic fluids or fluids with yield stress, making it applicable to various engineering applications, including extrusion processes, coating applications, and biomedical fluid dynamics. Casson-Maxwell fluid flow enhances mass transfer rates due to the combined effects of non-Newtonian viscosity and viscoelastic behavior. This is particularly useful in processes where mass transfer limitations play a significant role, such as in multiphase reactions or reactive distillation systems. In the context of the above applications the present model, is the combination of Casson- Maxwell fluids that flow through the varying gap of the spinning cone and disk system (CDS) for the heat transfer enhancement. The magnetic field is also imposed in the upright direction to the flow field. The solution of the transform equations has been obtained through artificial neural networks (ANN). The skin friction, heat transfer rate, and comparative analysis have been done. The Casson-Maxwell parameters that depend on the viscoelastic behavior and high viscosity term, causes the fluid to slow down and tends to store the temperature, for a long time as compared to traditional fluids. The radial component of velocity decreases due to the increase in magnetic field. The relative error of the reference and targeted dates is calculated to demonstrate the best precision efficiency of ANN, with a range of 10−3 to 10−4.

Experimental investigation of the effects of graphene nano particle added water fluid on heat transfer in a smooth tube with double inserts

In this study, experimental studies were carried out to increase the performance of heat exchangers. The effects of two techniques (inserts and nanofluid) on thermohydraulic performance was investigated simultaneously. The twisted tape and the helically wire coil were originally created. The two separation ratios (0.1 and 0.05), the eight twisted tape pitch ratios (1.9/2.3/2.7/3 and 2.1/2.4/2.8/3.2), the four coil wire pitch ratios (0.8/1.2/1.5/1.6) and three weight fractions (0.5/0.75/1 %) for graphene-water nanofluids were used with the Reynolds number ranging from 5000 to 26,000. Experiments in which a coiled wire coil and twisted tape are used together have been found to increase both the heat transfer rate and the friction factor compared to experiments using distilled water in an empty tube. According to the results of all experiments, it was found that the highest heat transfer rate and friction factor were obtained with the model containing graphene-water fluid used at a weight fraction of 1 %. The highest performance evaluation criteria is found as 2.5 b y using the graphene-water mixture model with a wall separation ratio of 0.05, a twisted tape ratio of 2.1, a wire coil ratio of 0.8 and a 1 % weight fraction among all combinations.

An improved dynamic analytical model and the parameter sensitivity analysis of spherical stacking latent thermal energy storage devices

Thermal energy storage technology plays an important role on improving energy usage flexibility for the end users. The spherical stacking latent thermal energy storage devices inherits the advantages of direct thermal energy usage efficiency and simplified practical applications that received widely attentions. However, due to dispersed and multi-layer structural arrangement, the non-ignorable dynamic heat transfer process poses difficulties in the device design and operation control. In this study, an improved analytical model for predicting the transient heat transfer process of spherical stacking devices is developed. After verification, the parameter sensitivity analysis of the device is conducted by using the model. The results show that the dynamic change trend of thermal resistance is distinct for the melting and the solidification process. The developed model can dynamically predict the outlet temperature of heat transfer fluid and the heat transfer efficiency in a good agreement, and the prediction error of outlet temperature during solidification can reach −2.49 %–4.70 %. The correlation between sphere radius and heat transfer rate is negative and reaches a kind of high correlation above 0.8 for solidification process. The inlet temperature and the mass flow rate of heat transfer fluid are the most influential parameters for melting process.

Enhancing the Production of Eco-Friendly Silk Fabrics through the Application of Nonthermal Plasma Wettability Techniques.

The combination of the effects of nonthermal plasma using atmospheric pressure of plasma jet and the photocatalytic effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles was used to study the plasma flow modes, electrical characteristics, nonthermal characteristics, antimicrobial measurements, and surface modifications. Using different wettabilities of argon discharges in a laminar flow: (i) wet I, wettability with 2.4 slm argon mixture with oxygen ratio O2, equivalent to 15 mslm (Ar/O2), and (ii) wet II, wettability (Ar/O2) mixture combined with titanium dioxide, to accelerate the inactivation process on the nonwoven fabric surface. For wet 0, wet I, and wet II discharges, the average rate of heat transfer to the nonwoven silk fabric increased significantly. Specifically, it goes from 104.6 to 118.6 and then to 241.7 mW, respectively. The kinetic deactivation rate of Escherichia coli increases starting at 0.20, then going up to 0.32, and finally reaching 0.57 min-1. The increased wettability of the TiO2 photocatalyst results in an enhanced bactericidal rate, which is caused by both the heat impact from the nonthermal jet and potentially photocatalytic disinfection, leading to the generation of active species. The mechanical parameters owing to different wettabilities and plasma interactions with the fabric membrane were tested for the treated samples, such as stiffness, ultimate yield strength, tensile strength, strain, hardening, elongation, resilience, and toughness.

Performance evaluation and optimization of compact tube-fin latent heat storage system in phase change nanoemulsion discharge mode

The low thermal conductivity of phase change materials (PCMs) and the reduced heat transfer temperature difference along a tube both limit the thermal performance of latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES). Herein, a compact tube-fin LHTES system based on phase change nanoemulsions was developed and the heat transfer process of nanoemulsion and PCM was numerically investigated. The effects of the heat transfer structure of the heat exchanger and the thermophysical parameters of the heat transfer fluid (HTF) on the cold energy discharge performance of the system were quantified. The optimized model reduced the discharge time by 24.4 % in nanoemulsion mode relative to water. Heat transfer improvement on the PCM side could be achieved by decreasing the fin spacing and tube spacing and by increasing the fin thickness. Such improvement reinforced the heat transfer enhancement of the nanoemulsion. The heat transfer mechanism was explained by the temperature distributions of the HTF and PCM along the tube. The phase-change thermostatic properties of the nanoemulsion and PCM contributed to the formation of dual-phase-change coupled heat transfer (i.e., the heat transfer process when the fluid inside the tube and the PCM filled outside the tube undergo a simultaneous phase change) within the LHTES, increasing the heat transfer temperature difference and the magnitude of the driving force. Increasing the phase change temperature difference accelerated the onset of dual-phase-change heat transfer, while increasing the PCM content prolonged the process. Briefly, this study provided operational and design assistance for LHTES systems in nanoemulsion mode with the intention to accelerate heat transfer rates.

Experimental Study of Thermal Contacts for the Enhancement of Interfacial Heat Transfer

Abstract The thermal management in high-performance electronic devices demands the enhanced rate of heat dissipation for controlling operational temperatures and achieving optimal functioning. There are many interfaces in the heat dissipation circuit where thermal interface materials are applied to enhance heat transfer rate. An experimental investigation is presented on metallic contacts to study the interfacial heat transfer with and without a thermal interface material. Thermal contact conductance is known to be an important parameter estimated for the analysis of interfacial heat transfer across the thermal contacts. Therefore, the thermal contact conductance has been evaluated to identify an effective thermal interface material suitable for the present range of contact pressure and heat flux conditions. Silicone grease is a widely used thermal interface material in electronic industry. Thus, commercially available Silicone grease is evaluated in different boundary line thicknesses for a range of contact pressure and mean interface temperatures. Further, a novel composite thermal paste has been prepared by mixing cupric oxide nanopowder and Silicone grease in three different mass concentrations. Eventually, the results for the new thermal paste showed improved thermal contact conductance and lower interfacial temperature drops as compared to Silicone grease for similar test conditions with few limitations.

Experimental investigation on frosting performance of a microchannel heat exchanger in heat pump system for electric vehicles

Frosting of outdoor heat exchangers deteriorates the heat transfer performance of the electric vehicle (EV) heat pump system. The frosting performance of the outdoor heat exchanger in an EV heat pump air-conditioning system was investigated experimentally, considering different flow configurations, tube arrangements, and frontal air volume. The purpose of the study was to establish the optimal tube arrangements and flow configurations for minimizing frost formation and maximizing system performance. The results indicate that a three-flow configuration outperforms a two-flow setup under frosting conditions. Specifically, a flow sequence of 14-21-35 increases the heat capacity by 15.05 %–20.64 % compared to that of the reverse flow of 35-21-14. Additionally, the coefficient of performance (COP) increases by 1.19 %–3.55 %. Higher airflow reduces frost formation. A significant correlation exists between the refrigerant distribution within the heat exchanger and the corresponding frost distribution on the surface of the microchannel heat exchanger. The frost formation rate was slower for the flat tube vertical arrangement. Furthermore, horizontal tube arrangements were more conductive than vertical ones, providing a more uniform temperature distribution and higher heat transfer rates (an increase of 2.7% in heat transfer and 3.4% in heat capacity). The COP of the vertical arrangement system was consistently higher than that of the horizontal arrangement by 1.4 %–3 %.

Enhancement of thermal energy transfer behind a double consecutive expansion utilizing a variable magnetic field

This research focuses on utilizing non-uniform magnetic fields, induced by dipoles, to control and enhance thermal energy transfer in a two-dimensional cooling conduit including a double backward-facing step. The presence of electronic equipment along the straight channel path creates such arrangements, and cooling is often ineffective in the corners of the formed steps. The use of a non-constant magnetic field is a passive technique to improve the cooling rate in these sections without changing the internal geometry, thereby increasing the heat transfer rate. A commercial software based on the finite volume technique is employed to solve the governing equations of fluid flow and heat transfer. Multiple parameters are examined in this study, including the flow Reynolds number (12.5–50), dipole location and strength (0.1–5 A-m), and the number of dipoles (single or double). The results indicate that all of these parameters have a significant impact on the thermal energy transfer. The results of the study show that a single dipole increase the average heat transfer by about 22%, two magnetic fields by 40%, the strength of the magnetic source by 24% with respect to the non-magnetic field in the present study.

Nonlinear dynamics of dissipative water conveying SWCNT/MWCNT/Ferro nanofluid subject to radiation: Thermal analysis by linear slope regression

Carbon nanotubes have gained significant attention due to their unique properties like small dimensions, high thermal conductivity, and unique architecture. These nanotubes have enormous potential in various fields such as nanomedicine, mechanical compound materials, sensor devices, bio-sensors, and many other applications. The present study investigates the impact of adding nanoparticles such as iron oxide (Fe3O4), single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT), and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) on magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) oscillatory water-based flow over a porous medium. The aim is to examine the effect of heat and mass transfer rate and radiative viscous dissipation that interacts with Fe3O4 nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes. The governing equations of the dynamic nanofluid systems are transformed into a set of coupled nonlinear partial differential equations through suitable dimensionless transformations and further converted into ordinary differential equations by taking appropriate solutions for oscillatory-type nanofluid flow. The homotopy perturbation method is applied to solve the governing equations with oscillatory boundary conditions and the solution is also compared with the numerical solver bvp4c. The rate of increase in the temperature and Heat Transfer are computed by the linear slope regression method and results are computed for nanoparticles SWCNT, MWCNT, and Ferro. Also, Skin friction and rate of heat transfer are computed and compared for the nanoparticles with varying Peclet and Eckert numbers. The velocity profile and temperature profile of SWCNT/MWCNT/Ferro nanofluids are being compared. The heat transfer rate is observed to be high for Ferro nanoparticles compared to SWCNT and MWCNT.

Flow analysis of MHD ternary hybrid nanofluid over a permeable wedge with variable surface temperature and slip effect

A comparative flow analysis of a water based- ternary hybrid nanofluid has been studied in this article over a moving permeable wedge in the presence of variable wedge surface temperature. The model has been developed keeping in mind magnetic, velocity slip, buoyancy, and suction effects. The primary nanoparticle was Nimonic 80A, Fe 3 O 4 being the secondary nanoparticle and Graphene Oxide ( GO ) ternary nanoparticle. The velocity, temperature, heat transfer rate, and shear drag profiles for various parametric values of the magnetic parameter ( M ), velocity ratio parameter ( R ) , velocity slip parameter ( h ) , buoyancy parameter ( γ ) and suction parameter ( S ) was investigated. MATLAB bvp4c code was utilized for obtaining the numerical results by solving the nondimensional differential equations obtained using similarity transformations. All the results and graphs were formulated after a positive outcome of our results with that available in existing literature. An increase in the velocity slip parameter ( h ) and velocity ratio parameter ( R ) resulted in an increase in velocity profiles and local Nusselt number graphs while a reverse trend was observed for temperature and skin friction profiles. Also, the velocity graphs faced an increase by 0.09% with an increment in M = 0.4 to M = 0.8 . The present study finds its extensive applications in medical industries, water heaters, and forging of hot exhaust valve heads.

Influence of loading on the heat transfer rate and specific water consumption of detached loosed fresh palm fruits during vertical mini-batch sterilization

This study presents the effect of loading on the heat transfer rate and specific water consumption of detached loosed fresh palm fruits during sterilization. Sterilization is an integral process of palm oil extraction that consumes a lot of water. However, most industrial research in the past focused on fresh fruit bunch (FFB) sterilization dynamics. At the same time, the medium- and small-scale industries sterilize already detached loosed fresh palm fruits (LFPF) that have been removed from the spikelet as purchased from aggregators. Therefore, the process data generated from the sterilization of FFB might not be optimal for sterilizing LFPF. This study, therefore, investigates the transient response of variation in LFPF loading of the sterilization chamber to steam injection during steam sterilization of LFPF at 3 ± 0.5 bars using a vertical, single-peak LFPF sterilizer that combines the boiler and sterilizer in a single unit. The LFPF were loaded at mass intervals of 0.2 kg ranging from 0.2 kg to 2 kg. The vapour temperature dynamics, heat transfer rate, steam energy utilization efficiency and specific water consumption parameters were studied. The average vapour temperature varied from 100 °C to 130 °C for the LFPF mass range of 0.2 to 2 kg at steam injection temperature of 140 °C and pressure of 3 ± 0.5 bars. This temperature range matched the saturated vapour temperature of pure water at 1.0––2.8 bars absolute pressure but slightly lower than the saturated vapour temperature of 133.54 °C for pure steam at 3 bars. The percentage of steam energy utilization effectiveness is inversely related to the steam mass flow rate. While energy effectiveness increased with loading mass, the steam mass flow rate decreased with increased LFPF mass. The value of the heat transfer rate ranged between 1.7––55.4 W, while the specific heat transfer rate ranged between 8.5–––41.8 W/kg. The average specific water consumption ranged from 0.014 to 0.09 kg-water/kg-LFPF, with an average value of 0.031 kg-water/kg-LFPF. This value is lower than 0.112–––0.5 kg-water/kg-FFB, with an average value of 0.256 kg-water/kg-FFB for conventional FFB steam sterilization. This represents an 87.9 % reduction in water consumption in conventional FFB steam sterilization. An empirical model deduced for specific heat transfer rate and water consumption for steam sterilization of LFPF at 3 ± 0.5 bars and vapour temperature range of 100––130 °C showed a high coefficient of determination above 99 %.

Flow of magnetohydrodynamic blood-based hybrid nanofluids with double diffusion in the presence of Riga plate for heat optimization and drug applications

In a recent study, researchers investigated the flow behavior of Casson Hybrid nanofluids (HNFs) combination of single and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), (MWCNTs) on a Riga plate for drug delivery applications. The study found that the Casson HNFs exhibited non-Newtonian behavior on the Riga plate, with the presence of nanoparticles causing an increase in viscosity and shear-thinning behavior. This rheological behavior is favorable for drug delivery applications as it improves the stability and dispersion of drug particles in the fluid. The similarity equations of the flow problem are easily tackled with the homotopy analysis method (HAM) built on fundamental homotopy mapping. In high-speed flows, Riga actuators are expected to achieve the requirements, since HNF is enhanced by modified Hartmann numbers. As the Eckert number, heat generation/absorption parameter, and thermal relaxation time parameter decrease the temperature, thermal transport increases. Furthermore, with the increments in paramount parameters, the skin friction coefficient and heat transfer rate are remarkably meliorated under higher modified Hartmann number. Furthermore, the study also found that the Casson Hybrid nanofluids showed enhanced heat transfer properties on the Riga plate, which is beneficial for localized drug delivery applications that require precise temperature control.

Laminar convective heat transfer combining buoyancy and thermal radiation of Carreau fluid within a concentric and eccentric annulus

The present study concerns a steady-state laminar combined thermal radiation and buoyancy-driven conjugate magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) natural convective flow and heat transfer inside a fully porous medium eccentric circular annulus bounded by two infinite horizontal cylinders occupied by a Carreau fluid permeated by a uniform transverse magnetic field (B0 ) and inclined by an angle (α). The convective and thermal radiation are approximated by the Boussinesq and Roseland models, respectively. The numerical integration was performed using the implicit finite volume method. The convective terms in the momentum and energy equations were Discretized using the second-order upwind method. On the other hand, the diffusive terms were Discretized using the central difference scheme. The pressure-velocity coupling was solved using the SIMPLE approach. The findings suggest a clear trend of enhancement in the heat transfer rate when the aspect ratio and annulus eccentricity increase. This pattern is more pronounced in the negative vertical eccentricities. It is worth noting that the eccentric annulus, which has an annulus aspect ratio of 1.6 and a vertical eccentricity of −0.8, offers the best performance regarding the heat transfer mechanism inside the annulus gap. The heat transfer mechanism turns out to be strongly affected by thermal radiation, Hartmann number, and magnetic field inclination angle. The increased thermal radiation parameter and the decreased flow behavior index improve the heat transfer mechanism between the Carreau fluid and the inner cylinder in the annular gap. Furthermore, the average Nusselt number increases considerably as the induced magnetic field inclines.

Study of nanofluid flow in a stationary cone–disk system with temperature-dependent viscosity and thermal conductivity

The substantial temperature gradient experienced by systems operating at relatively high temperatures significantly impacts the transport characteristics of fluids. Hence, considering temperature-dependent fluid properties is critical for obtaining realistic prediction of fluid behavior and optimizing system performance. The current study focuses on the flow of nanofluids in a stationary cone–disk system (SCDS), taking into account temperature-dependent thermal conductivity and viscosity. The influence of Brownian motion, thermophoresis, and Rosseland radiative flux on the heat transport features are also examined. The Reynolds model for viscosity and Chiam's model for thermal conductivity are employed. The Navier–Stokes equation, the energy equation, the incompressibility condition, and the continuity equation for nanoparticles constitute the governing system. The Lie-group transformations lead the self-similar ordinary differential equations, which are then solved numerically. Multi-variate non-linear regression models for the rate of heat and mass transfers on the disk surface were developed. Our study reveals a notable decrease in the rate of heat and mass transfer when pre-swirl exists in the flow. The significant influence of nanofluid slip mechanisms on the effective temperature and nanofluid volume fraction (NVF) within the system is highlighted. Furthermore, the variable viscosity property enhances the temperature and NVF of the SCDS.

MHD double diffusive mixed convection and heat generation / absorption in a lid-driven inclined wavy enclosure filled with a ferrofluid

The magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD) double-diffusive mixed convection and heat generation/absorption in a lid-driven inclined wavy enclosure filled with (Fe3O4/ water) ferrofluid is quantitatively investigated in this paper. The present study focuses on improving the efficiency of mass and thermal performance of a system. Both the left and right sidewalls of the cavity are allowed to move with a constant velocity in the upward and downward directions, respectively. The finite difference approach was applied to discretize the subsequent governing equations followed by the Bi-Conjugate Gradient Stabilized (Bi-CGStab) method to solve them. The numerical simulation was performed for a variety of parameters, including the Hartmann number varied as 0 ≤ Ha ≤ 45, the inclination angle of the enclosure varied as 0° ≤ δ ≤ 180°, the buoyancy ratio varied as -2 ≤ N ≤ 2, heat generation or absorption parameter varied as −10 ≤ Qo ≤ 10, Richardson number varied as 0.01 ≤ Ri ≤ 10, and solid volume fraction varied as 0 ≤ ϕ ≤ 0.06. The numerical simulation results were presented in terms of streamlines, isotherms, isoconcentrations, average Nusselt number, and average Sherwood number. The heat and mass transfer rates were found to decrease with the increase in Ha but increase with N, Ri, and Φ. Also, both of them reach their peak values at Ri = 10. In addition, the heat generation parameter enhances both thermal and mass performance as they reach their maximum values at Qo = 10. Increasing the heat generation factor from Qo = 5 to Qo = 10 increases the Nusselt number by 3.5 times. The outcomes of the study have significant importance for modern industrial applications specifically in the discipline of electronic device cooling.

Influence of porosity properties on natural convection heat transfer in porous square cavity

A numerical investigation was conducted to examine free convection heat transfer within a square cavity containing a fluid-saturated porous layer at the bottom under laminar flow conditions. The enclosure's left and right walls experienced heating and cooling, while the top and bottom walls remained adiabatic. The study explored the influence of the Darcy number, porosity number, and dimensionless thickness of the porous layer on heat transmission. This investigation utilized a FORTRAN computation program alongside the finite volume method, effectively solving the equations governing flow and heat exchange within porous materials through natural convection. The flow pattern is determined by the Navier–Stokes equations in the fluid region and the Darcy–Brinkman–Forchheimer formula in the porous region. The energy equation was employed to compute the thermal field. The increase in the Darcy number results in both an increase in heat transfer rate due to enhanced fluid flow through pores and an intensification of fluid flow patterns. Higher porosity leads to higher heat transfer rates due to greater fluid penetration and an increased surface area for heat exchange. The thicker porous layer reduces heat transfer rate due to increased resistance to fluid flow and decreased contact area.

Bioconvective flow of thermally radiative Casson nanofluid with aerobic microorganisms over a stretching surface

A mathematical model is proposed to analyze the flow characteristics of a thermally radiative, chemically reacting Casson nanofluid incorporating aerobic microorganisms over a stretching sheet. Nonlinear dimensionless ordinary differential equations are formulated through suitable similarity transformations. The resulting coupled system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations is numerically solved using the finite difference method with the bvp4c routine in MATLAB. The verification of the numerical solution’s accuracy is conducted by comparing it with previously established results under specific conditions pertinent to the present investigation. Skin friction coefficients, local Nusselt number, and Sherwood number are computed for various parameters and their implications for engineering applications are discussed. The investigation also explores the impact of different dimensionless parameters on velocity, temperature, mass concentration, motile microorganism density, and oxygen concentration profiles for both Casson and Newtonian nanofluids, offering a comprehensive analysis. The study highlights that suspending non-Newtonian nanofluids with fast-moving aerobic microorganisms and nanoparticles results in enhanced heat transfer rates, thus presenting potential benefits for practical applications such as the manufacturing of biofilms.

Experimental investigation of phase change material (PCM) thermal energy storages with and without metal foam at different temperatures

This paper presents an experimental investigation of phase change materials (PCM) thermal energy storage. The experimental unit consists of a square channel with a single flow stream having distilled water as a heat exchange fluid. RT-42 is used as a thermal energy storage and the overall system is designed in two configurations i.e. with and without aluminium metal foam having a porosity of 95%. Each configuration is analysed and compared for two temperature variations i.e. at 55 °C and 65 °C, respectively. The study reveals that the heat storage rate in metal foam (MF) integrated PCM thermal energy storage is enhanced to ~3-4 times as compared to the setup without metal foam. In metal foam PCM energy storage, the temperature distribution is uniform and heat transfer is due to conduction as well as convection, while in case of pure PCM, there exist a temperature gradient within the thermal storage and the heat transfer is slower due to convection phenomenon. It is also observed that the heat transfer rate for 65 °C is comparatively greater than that of 55 °C for both systems as the higher operating temperatures lead to higher heat flux. However, operating at high temperatures is less feasible as the setup is more prone to PCM leakages.