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Computational efficiency in numerical modeling of high temperature latent heat storage: Comparison of selected software tools based on experimental data

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  • Pointner, Harald
  • de Gracia, Alvaro
  • Vogel, Julian
  • Tay, N.H.S.
  • Liu, Ming
  • Johnson, Maike
  • Cabeza, Luisa F.

Abstract

In this article, four different numerical models for the investigation of phase change processes within latent heat storage are described and compared concerning accuracy, convergence behavior and computational efficiency. The models are based on different types of discretization, make use of different ways to model phase change and are implemented with C, MATLAB or ANSYS CFX. After a brief introduction into each investigated numerical model, the experimental reference setup is described. It consists of a flat plate latent heat storage with the eutectic mixture NaNO3 (46wt%)–KNO3 (54wt%) with a measured melting temperature of 219.5°C as storage material. Based on the corresponding simulation model developed in this paper, the comparison of the numerical models is achieved. This methodology allows the investigation of the numerical performance of different software tools in the context of high temperature latent heat storage that was not achieved thus far. All four numerical models show good agreement to experimental results but differ significantly in speed and convergence behavior.

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  • Pointner, Harald & de Gracia, Alvaro & Vogel, Julian & Tay, N.H.S. & Liu, Ming & Johnson, Maike & Cabeza, Luisa F., 2016. "Computational efficiency in numerical modeling of high temperature latent heat storage: Comparison of selected software tools based on experimental data," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 337-348.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:161:y:2016:i:c:p:337-348
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.10.020
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    Cited by:

    1. Waser, R. & Ghani, F. & Maranda, S. & O'Donovan, T.S. & Schuetz, P. & Zaglio, M. & Worlitschek, J., 2018. "Fast and experimentally validated model of a latent thermal energy storage device for system level simulations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C), pages 116-126.
    2. Andreas König-Haagen & Gonzalo Diarce, 2022. "Comparison of Corrected and Uncorrected Enthalpy Methods for Solving Conduction-Driven Solid/Liquid Phase Change Problems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-26, December.
    3. Vogel, J. & Felbinger, J. & Johnson, M., 2016. "Natural convection in high temperature flat plate latent heat thermal energy storage systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 184-196.
    4. Andreas König-Haagen & Erwin Franquet & Moritz Faden & Dieter Brüggemann, 2021. "A Study on the Numerical Performances of Diffuse Interface Methods for Simulation of Melting and Their Practical Consequences," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-16, January.
    5. Tan, Pepe & Lindberg, Patrik & Eichler, Kaia & Löveryd, Per & Johansson, Pär & Kalagasidis, Angela Sasic, 2020. "Thermal energy storage using phase change materials: Techno-economic evaluation of a cold storage installation in an office building," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    6. Craig, K.J. & Moghimi, M.A. & Rungasamy, A.E. & Marsberg, J. & Meyer, J.P., 2016. "Finite-volume ray tracing using Computational Fluid Dynamics in linear focus CSP applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 241-256.
    7. Pirasaci, Tolga & Wickramaratne, Chatura & Moloney, Francesca & Goswami, D. Yogi & Stefanakos, Elias, 2018. "Influence of design on performance of a latent heat storage system at high temperatures," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 220-229.
    8. Vogel, J. & Johnson, M., 2019. "Natural convection during melting in vertical finned tube latent thermal energy storage systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 246(C), pages 38-52.
    9. Pointner, Harald & Steinmann, Wolf-Dieter, 2016. "Experimental demonstration of an active latent heat storage concept," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 661-671.

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