Topology-Optimized Latent Heat Battery: Benchmarking Against a High-Performance Geometry

Arsham Mortazavi, Matteo Morciano, Pietro Asinari and Eliodoro Chiavazzo ()
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Arsham Mortazavi: Department of Energy “Galileo Ferraris”, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca Degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
Matteo Morciano: Department of Energy “Galileo Ferraris”, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca Degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
Pietro Asinari: Department of Energy “Galileo Ferraris”, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca Degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
Eliodoro Chiavazzo: Department of Energy “Galileo Ferraris”, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca Degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 15, 1-17

Abstract: This study presents a topology optimization approach to enhance the discharging performance of a latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) system using paraffin wax as the phase-change material (PCM) and a high-conductivity aluminium structure. Solidification is primarily governed by conduction, and the average heat transfer rate during this process is significantly lower than during melting; therefore, the optimization focused on the discharge phase. In a previous study, a novel LHTES device based on a Cartesian lattice was investigated experimentally and numerically. The validated numerical model from that study was adopted as the reference and used in a 2D topology optimization study based on the Solid Isotropic Material with Penalization (SIMP) method. The objective was to promote more uniform temperature distribution and reduce discharging time while maintaining the same aluminium volume fraction as in the reference device. Topology optimization produced a branched fin design, which was then extruded into a 3D model for comparison with the reference geometry. The optimized design resulted in improved temperature uniformity and a faster solidification process. Specifically, the time required to solidify 90% of the PCM was reduced by 12.3%, while the time to release 90% of the latent heat during the solidification process improved by 7.6%.

Keywords: thermal energy storage; phase-change materials; topology optimization; heat transfer enhancement (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: 2025
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