Simulations of Melting of Encapsulated CaCl 2 ·6H 2 O for Thermal Energy Storage Technologies

Antonio M. Puertas, Manuel S. Romero-Cano, Francisco Javier De Las Nieves, Sabina Rosiek and Francisco J. Batlles
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Antonio M. Puertas: Department of Chemistry and Physics, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
Manuel S. Romero-Cano: Department of Chemistry and Physics, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
Francisco Javier De Las Nieves: Department of Chemistry and Physics, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
Sabina Rosiek: Department of Chemistry and Physics, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
Francisco J. Batlles: Department of Chemistry and Physics, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain

Energies, 2017, vol. 10, issue 4, 1-19

Abstract: We present in this work simulations using the finite difference approximation in 2D for the melting of an encapsulated phase-change material suitable for heat storage applications; in particular, we study CaCl 2 ·6H 2 O in a cylindrical encapsulation of internal radius 8 mm. We choose this particular salt hydrate due to its availability and economic feasibility in high thermal mass building walls or storage. Considering only heat conduction, a thermostat is placed far from the capsule, providing heat for the melting of the phase-change material (PCM), which is initially frozen in a water bath. The difference in density between the solid and liquid phases is taken into account by considering a void in the solid PCM. A simple theoretical model is also presented, based on solving the heat equation in the steady state. The kinetics of melting is monitored by the total solid fraction and temperatures in the inner and outer surfaces of the capsule. The effect of different parameters is presented (thermostat temperature, capsule thickness, capsule conductivity and natural convection in the bath), showing the potential application of the method to select materials or geometries of the capsule.

Keywords: phase-change materials; thermal conductivity; solidification; melting; latent thermal energy storage; cylindrical containers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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