IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v137y2015icp707-715.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • Sciacovelli, A.
  • Gagliardi, F.
  • Verda, V.

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Sciacovelli, A. & Gagliardi, F. & Verda, V., 2015. "Maximization of performance of a PCM latent heat storage system with innovative fins," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 707-715.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:137:y:2015:i:c:p:707-715
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.07.015
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261914006825
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.07.015?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Oró, E. & de Gracia, A. & Castell, A. & Farid, M.M. & Cabeza, L.F., 2012. "Review on phase change materials (PCMs) for cold thermal energy storage applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 513-533.
    2. Mawire, A. & McPherson, M., 2008. "Experimental characterisation of a thermal energy storage system using temperature and power controlled charging," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 682-693.
    3. Tay, N.H.S. & Bruno, F. & Belusko, M., 2013. "Comparison of pinned and finned tubes in a phase change thermal energy storage system using CFD," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 79-86.
    4. Colella, Francesco & Sciacovelli, Adriano & Verda, Vittorio, 2012. "Numerical analysis of a medium scale latent energy storage unit for district heating systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 397-406.
    5. Chiu, Justin N.W. & Martin, Viktoria, 2012. "Submerged finned heat exchanger latent heat storage design and its experimental verification," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 507-516.
    6. Al-abidi, Abduljalil A. & Bin Mat, Sohif & Sopian, K. & Sulaiman, M.Y. & Mohammed, Abdulrahman Th., 2013. "CFD applications for latent heat thermal energy storage: a review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 353-363.
    7. Zhang, Zhengguo & Zhang, Ni & Peng, Jing & Fang, Xiaoming & Gao, Xuenong & Fang, Yutang, 2012. "Preparation and thermal energy storage properties of paraffin/expanded graphite composite phase change material," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 91(1), pages 426-431.
    8. Guelpa, Elisa & Sciacovelli, Adriano & Verda, Vittorio, 2013. "Entropy generation analysis for the design improvement of a latent heat storage system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 128-138.
    9. Jegadheeswaran, S. & Pohekar, Sanjay D., 2009. "Performance enhancement in latent heat thermal storage system: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(9), pages 2225-2244, December.
    10. Agyenim, Francis & Hewitt, Neil & Eames, Philip & Smyth, Mervyn, 2010. "A review of materials, heat transfer and phase change problem formulation for latent heat thermal energy storage systems (LHTESS)," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(2), pages 615-628, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Guelpa, Elisa & Verda, Vittorio, 2019. "Thermal energy storage in district heating and cooling systems: A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 252(C), pages 1-1.
    2. Pizzolato, Alberto & Sharma, Ashesh & Ge, Ruihuan & Maute, Kurt & Verda, Vittorio & Sciacovelli, Adriano, 2020. "Maximization of performance in multi-tube latent heat storage – Optimization of fins topology, effect of materials selection and flow arrangements," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    3. Soares, N. & Bastos, J. & Pereira, L. Dias & Soares, A. & Amaral, A.R. & Asadi, E. & Rodrigues, E. & Lamas, F.B. & Monteiro, H. & Lopes, M.A.R. & Gaspar, A.R., 2017. "A review on current advances in the energy and environmental performance of buildings towards a more sustainable built environment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 845-860.
    4. Pizzolato, Alberto & Sharma, Ashesh & Maute, Kurt & Sciacovelli, Adriano & Verda, Vittorio, 2017. "Design of effective fins for fast PCM melting and solidification in shell-and-tube latent heat thermal energy storage through topology optimization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 210-227.
    5. Zhang, P. & Ma, F. & Xiao, X., 2016. "Thermal energy storage and retrieval characteristics of a molten-salt latent heat thermal energy storage system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 255-271.
    6. Seddegh, Saeid & Wang, Xiaolin & Henderson, Alan D. & Xing, Ziwen, 2015. "Solar domestic hot water systems using latent heat energy storage medium: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 517-533.
    7. Soares, N. & Gaspar, A.R. & Santos, P. & Costa, J.J., 2015. "Experimental study of the heat transfer through a vertical stack of rectangular cavities filled with phase change materials," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 192-205.
    8. Sharif, M.K. Anuar & Al-Abidi, A.A. & Mat, S. & Sopian, K. & Ruslan, M.H. & Sulaiman, M.Y. & Rosli, M.A.M., 2015. "Review of the application of phase change material for heating and domestic hot water systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 557-568.
    9. Zhu, Yejun & Huang, Baoling & Wu, Jingshen, 2014. "Optimization of filler distribution for organic phase change material composites: Numerical investigation and entropy analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 543-550.
    10. Rostami, Sara & Afrand, Masoud & Shahsavar, Amin & Sheikholeslami, M. & Kalbasi, Rasool & Aghakhani, Saeed & Shadloo, Mostafa Safdari & Oztop, Hakan F., 2020. "A review of melting and freezing processes of PCM/nano-PCM and their application in energy storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    11. Merlin, Kevin & Delaunay, Didier & Soto, Jérôme & Traonvouez, Luc, 2016. "Heat transfer enhancement in latent heat thermal storage systems: Comparative study of different solutions and thermal contact investigation between the exchanger and the PCM," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 107-116.
    12. Pointner, Harald & Steinmann, Wolf-Dieter, 2016. "Experimental demonstration of an active latent heat storage concept," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 661-671.
    13. Pereira da Cunha, Jose & Eames, Philip, 2016. "Thermal energy storage for low and medium temperature applications using phase change materials – A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 227-238.
    14. Zhang, P. & Xiao, X. & Ma, Z.W., 2016. "A review of the composite phase change materials: Fabrication, characterization, mathematical modeling and application to performance enhancement," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 472-510.
    15. Muhammad Saqib & Rafal Andrzejczyk, 2023. "A review of phase change materials and heat enhancement methodologies," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(3), May.
    16. Liu, Yang & Zheng, Ruowei & Li, Ji, 2022. "High latent heat phase change materials (PCMs) with low melting temperature for thermal management and storage of electronic devices and power batteries: Critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    17. Memon, Shazim Ali, 2014. "Phase change materials integrated in building walls: A state of the art review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 870-906.
    18. Bose, Prabhu & Amirtham, Valan Arasu, 2016. "A review on thermal conductivity enhancement of paraffinwax as latent heat energy storage material," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 81-100.
    19. Khan, Mohammed Mumtaz A. & Saidur, R. & Al-Sulaiman, Fahad A., 2017. "A review for phase change materials (PCMs) in solar absorption refrigeration systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 105-137.
    20. Liu, Zhenyu & Yao, Yuanpeng & Wu, Huiying, 2013. "Numerical modeling for solid–liquid phase change phenomena in porous media: Shell-and-tube type latent heat thermal energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 1222-1232.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:137:y:2015:i:c:p:707-715. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.