Maximization of performance of a PCM latent heat storage system with innovative fins

A. Sciacovelli, F. Gagliardi and V. Verda

Applied Energy, 2015, vol. 137, issue C, 707-715

Abstract: Latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) based on phase change material (PCMs) is an interesting solution to be used for mitigating the mismatch between energy demand and supply that affects various kinds energy systems. The advance of LHTES technology requires to overcome the limitations posed by the poor thermal conductivity of most of the PCMs. Thus, a large scale utilization of LHTES system strongly depends on the development of efficient heat transfer enhancement techniques. In this paper the use of tree shaped fins is proposed to enhance the performance of a shell-and-tube LHTES unit. The study is performed through a numerical model that takes into account of the thermal behaviour of the system. The geometry of Y-shaped fins with one and two bifurcations are optimized through the combined use of CFD modelling and response surface method. The results show that an increase of 24% of the system efficiency can be achieved by the optimized unit. Another relevant result arises from the analysis: the optimal fin design depends on the operating time of the LHTES unit. For short operating times Y-shaped fins with wide angles between branches are preferable. On the contrary, smaller angles are necessary for long operating times.

Keywords: Phase change; Optimization; CFD; Numerical simulations; Efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (79)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261914006825
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:appene:v:137:y:2015:i:c:p:707-715

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/bibliographic
http://www.elsevier. ... 405891/bibliographic

DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.07.015

Access Statistics for this article

Applied Energy is currently edited by J. Yan

More articles in Applied Energy from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().