Numerical Study of a Phase Change Material Energy Storage Tank Working with Carbon Nanotube–Water Nanofluid under Ha’il City Climatic Conditions

Lioua Kolsi (), Ahmed Kadhim Hussein, Walid Hassen, Lotfi Ben Said, Badreddine Ayadi, Wajdi Rajhi, Taher Labidi, Ali Shawabkeh and Katta Ramesh
Additional contact information
Lioua Kolsi: Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Ha’il, Ha’il City 81541, Saudi Arabia
Ahmed Kadhim Hussein: Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, University of Babylon, Hilla 51002, Iraq
Walid Hassen: Laboratory of Metrology and Energy Systems, Department of Energy Engineering, University of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia
Lotfi Ben Said: Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Ha’il, Ha’il City 81541, Saudi Arabia
Badreddine Ayadi: Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Ha’il, Ha’il City 81541, Saudi Arabia
Wajdi Rajhi: Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Ha’il, Ha’il City 81541, Saudi Arabia
Taher Labidi: Department of Software Engineering, College of Computer Engineering and Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 151, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
Ali Shawabkeh: College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Egaila 54200, Kuwait
Katta Ramesh: Department of Pure and Applied Mathematics, School of Mathematical Sciences, Sunway University, No. 5, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya 47500, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Mathematics, 2023, vol. 11, issue 4, 1-27

Abstract: A numerical investigation of a phase change material (PCM) energy storage tank working with carbon nanotube (CNT)–water nanofluid is performed. The study was conducted under actual climatic conditions of the Ha’il region (Saudi Arabia). Two configurations related to the absence or presence of conductive baffles are studied. The tank is filled by encapsulated paraffin wax as the PCM, and CNT–water nanofluid flows through the capsules. The main goal is to increase the temperature of the PCM to 70 °C in order to store the thermal energy, which can then be used during the night and cloudy weather. Numerical computations are made using the finite element method (FEM) based on actual measured weather conditions. Climate conditions were collected from a weather station located on the roof of the engineering college’s building at the University of Ha’il. The collected data served as input to the numerical model, and the simulations were performed for three months (December, March, and July). The solid CNT volume fraction range was (0 ≤ ϕ ≤ 0.05) and the nanofluid volume flow rate ranged was (0.5 L/min ≤ V ≤ 3 L/min). For both considered cases (with and without baffles), it was found that the use of CNT–nanofluid led to a reduction in the charging time and enhanced its performance. An increase in the volumetric flow rate was found to accelerate the melting process. The best performances of the storage tank occurred during July due to the highest solar irradiation. Furthermore, it was found that the use of baffles had no beneficial effects on the melting process.

Keywords: energy storage; baffles; actual weather conditions; finite element method; phase change material; carbon nanotube–nanofluid (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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