https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5212-2849
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ABSTRACT
The low ability of phase change material (PCM) to transfer thermal energy has created a serious challenge for the development of latent heat storage (LHTES) units. Embedding foam with high thermal conductivity material like copper has attracted significant attention. Besides, high porosity, lightweight, and easy usage are other important benefits of copper. However, its higher cost and decreasing effective volume of PCM led to the creation of amendments in the foam design. Employment of the foam in the form of fin or foam fin has emerged as an alternative method to benefit from the advantages of porous material and overcome its defects. In this study, various LHTES units with different numbers of foam fins have been simulated numerically and compared with pure PCM and fully foam PCM enclosures. Two practical boundary conditions including constant temperature and constant heat flux were examined for the designed systems. The obtained results demonstrated that foam fins have a remarkable effect on the thermal performance enhancement of LHTES under constant temperature boundary condition. For LHTES with six foam fins, 42% and 30% reductions in melting time were achieved for both types of boundary conditions including constant temperature and heat flux, respectively. At the beginning of charging process, a significant enhancement of input heat rate was proved for LHTES with 6 foam fins and fully foam up to 112% and 155%, respectively. In addition, the foam fins method provided some free volume of PCM to permit the falling out of natural convection of molten PCM.
Nomenclature
| Amush | = | Mushy parameter, kg/m3.s |
| C | = | Inertia coefficient, |
| CP | = | Specific heat coefficient at constant pressure, J/kg.K |
| d | = | Constant |
| dm | = | Pore diameter, m |
| dp | = | Foam fiber diameter, m |
| g | = | Gravitational acceleration, m/s2 |
| K | = | Permeability, m2 |
| k | = | Thermal conductivity, W/m.K |
| P | = | Pressure, Pa |
| T | = | Temperature, K |
| t | = | Time, s |
| V | = | Velocity, m/s |
| Z | = | Thermal conductivity resistance, K/W |
| Subscripts | = | |
| eff | = | effective |
| l | = | Liquid phase |
| mf | = | Metal foam |
| PCM | = | Phase change material |
| s | = | Solid phase |
| Greek letters | = | |
| α | = | Thermal diffusivity, m2/s |
| β | = | volume coefficient of expansion, 1/k |
| ε | = | Porosity |
| μ | = | Viscosity, N.s/m2 |
| υ | = | Kinematic viscosity, m2/s |
| ρ | = | Density, kg/m3 |
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Saeed Rahmanian
Saeed Rahmanian received his master degree in Mechanical Engineering from Isfahan University of Technology, Iran, and his PhD degree from Universiti Putra Malaysia. He is working as Assistant Professor at Jahrom University, Jahrom, Iran. His research areas of interest are solar energy, energy storage and nanomaterials.
Hossein Rahmanian-Koushkaki
Hossein Rahmanian-Koushkaki obtained both master and PhD degrees in Biosystems Engineering form Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. He is working as assistant professor at Jahrom University, Jahrom, Iran, since 2020. His specific area of interest is solar energy, CFD simulations and energy systems.
Mahbod Moein-Jahromi
Dr. Mahbod Moein-Jahromi is an assistant professor and a distinguished renewable energy and storage researcher with over 20 publications in reputed journals. Trained at Amirkabir University of Technology, he specializes in PEM fuel cell energy, Photovoltaic-thermal systems, and energy storage systems.
Milad Setareh
Milad Setareh obtained the Doctor of Philosophy in mechanical engineering from Amirkabir university of technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Tehran, Iran. He is working as an assistant professor at Jundi-Shapor University of Technology, Dezful, Iran, since 2020. His interest fields are solar energy systems and using different active and passive methods for heat transfer enhancement in various applications.