Computational Model of Shell and Finned Tube Latent Thermal Energy Storage Developed as a New TRNSYS Type

Fran Torbarina, Kristian Lenic and Anica Trp
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Fran Torbarina: Faculty of Engineering, University of Rijeka, Vukovarska 58, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
Kristian Lenic: Faculty of Engineering, University of Rijeka, Vukovarska 58, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
Anica Trp: Faculty of Engineering, University of Rijeka, Vukovarska 58, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 7, 1-26

Abstract: This paper presents the development of a computational model of latent thermal energy storage (LTES) in a shell and tube configuration with longitudinal fins. The model describes the physical process of transient heat transfer between the heat transfer fluid (HTF) and the phase change material (PCM) in LTES. For modeling the phase change of the PCM, the enthalpy formulation was used. Based on a one-dimensional computational model, a new Trnsys type was developed and written in Fortran. Validation of the LTES model was performed by comparing numerically and experimentally obtained data for the melting and solidification of paraffin RT 25 as the PCM and water as the HTF. Numerical investigations of the effect of HTF inlet temperature and HTF flow rate on heat transfer in LTES confirmed that significant improvement in heat transfer between the HTF and PCM could be achieved by increasing the HTF inlet temperature during charging or decreasing the HTF inlet temperature during discharging. Increasing the HTF flow rate did not significantly improve the heat transfer between the HTF and PCM, both during charging and discharging. The presented, experimentally validated LTES model could be used to analyze the feasibility of integrating LTES into various thermal systems and ultimately help define the specific benefits of implementing LTES systems.

Keywords: latent thermal energy storage; phase change material; trnsys; dynamic system simulation; computational model (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: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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