Heat Transfer Augmentation Using Duplex and Triplex Tube Phase Change Material (PCM) Heat Exchanger Configurations

Aurang Zaib, Abdur Rehman Mazhar (), Shahid Aziz, Tariq Talha and Dong-Won Jung ()
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Aurang Zaib: College of Electrical & Mechanical Engineering, National University of Sciences & Technology, Islamabad 47301, Pakistan
Abdur Rehman Mazhar: College of Electrical & Mechanical Engineering, National University of Sciences & Technology, Islamabad 47301, Pakistan
Shahid Aziz: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jeju National University, 102 Jejudaehak-ro, Jeju-si 63243, Republic of Korea
Tariq Talha: College of Electrical & Mechanical Engineering, National University of Sciences & Technology, Islamabad 47301, Pakistan
Dong-Won Jung: Faculty of Applied Energy System, Major of Mechanical Engineering, Jeju National University, 102 Jejudaehak-ro, Jeju-si 63243, Republic of Korea

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 10, 1-19

Abstract: The significance of latent heat thermal energy storage is more substantial when compared to sensible energy storage due to its higher energy storage capability. In this paper, heat transfer enhancement techniques for melting (charging) and solidification (discharging) by using external fins and internal–external fins for a phase change material (PCM) in duplex and triplex tube heat exchangers (DTHX and TTHX) are investigated numerically. A two-dimensional analysis is carried out using ANSYS Fluent for various configurations. Moreover, the effect of different critical parameters, number of fins, fin length, fin thickness, and the heat exchanger tube material are evaluated in terms of the total time of complete phase change of the PCM. Four cases are investigated; cases 1 and 2 are based upon a DTHX while cases 3 and 4 are TTHXs. By considering case 1 as a reference case, it is found that case 2 and case 3 reduce the total melting time by 48.76% and 90.12%, respectively. Case 4 achieves the shortest time for complete melting of the PCM, and the total melting time is decreased by 92%. Solidification behaviour for all four cases is also investigated. The novel configurations increase (doubled) the supply of heat transfer fluid (HTF) while at the same time significantly enhance the melting/solidification characteristics for all the cases without disrupting the convectional currents during phase change of the PCM. Tube materials with different thermophysical properties are also investigated with the heat transfer rate and melting time significantly improved with a high thermal diffusivity material. Moreover, the heat transfer is found to increase with fin length and fin thickness.

Keywords: latent thermal storage; duplex tube heat exchanger (DTHX); triplex tube heat exchanger (TTHX); phase change material (PCM) (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: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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