IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v203y2023icp518-528.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Employing spiral fins to improve the thermal performance of phase-change materials in shell-tube latent heat storage units

Author

Listed:
  • He, Fan
  • Bo, Renfei
  • Hu, Chenxi
  • Meng, Xi
  • Gao, Weijun

Abstract

Adding metal fins to extend the heat transfer area is a viable and effective technology to improve the poor thermal conductivity of Phase-Change Material (PCM). The annular fin is the most common type due to the simple structure, but it weakens the natural convection. Under this condition, the spiral fin is proposed to overcome the poor natural convection. An experimental system was built with three vertical shell-tube latent heat storage units (LHSU), two of which employed annular and spiral fins with the same heat transfer area by taking one without fin as a reference. The melting and solidifying status, temperature distribution and comprehensive efficiency are used to evaluate thermal performance of three LHSUs. Experimental results show adding metal fins contributes to the heat transfer improvement, especially for spiral fins. Employing metal fins can weaken PCM natural convection, but annular fins have a lower weakening efficiency than spiral fins on PCM natural convection. Therefore, the spiral fins provide superior thermal performance with enhanced multi-circulation flows. Compared with annular fins, employing spiral fins can increase the average Nusselt number by 28.6%, the average heat transfer rate by 20.9%–58.2% in charging and discharging processes, and the average heat flux by 17.5%–53.8% in LHSUs.

Suggested Citation

  • He, Fan & Bo, Renfei & Hu, Chenxi & Meng, Xi & Gao, Weijun, 2023. "Employing spiral fins to improve the thermal performance of phase-change materials in shell-tube latent heat storage units," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 518-528.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:203:y:2023:i:c:p:518-528
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2022.12.091
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148122018870
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2022.12.091?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. Parsazadeh, Mohammad & Duan, Xili, 2018. "Numerical study on the effects of fins and nanoparticles in a shell and tube phase change thermal energy storage unit," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 142-156.
    2. Li, Zhi & Lu, Yiji & Huang, Rui & Chang, Jinwei & Yu, Xiaonan & Jiang, Ruicheng & Yu, Xiaoli & Roskilly, Anthony Paul, 2021. "Applications and technological challenges for heat recovery, storage and utilisation with latent thermal energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    3. Yang, Xiaohu & Lu, Zhao & Bai, Qingsong & Zhang, Qunli & Jin, Liwen & Yan, Jinyue, 2017. "Thermal performance of a shell-and-tube latent heat thermal energy storage unit: Role of annular fins," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 558-570.
    4. Zheng, Zhang-Jing & Cai, Xiao & Yang, Chao & Xu, Yang, 2022. "Improving the solidification performance of a latent heat thermal energy storage unit using arrow-shaped fins obtained by an innovative fast optimization algorithm," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 566-577.
    5. Kalapala, Lokesh & Devanuri, Jaya Krishna, 2020. "Energy and exergy analyses of latent heat storage unit positioned at different orientations – An experimental study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C).
    6. Ibrahim, Nasiru I. & Al-Sulaiman, Fahad A. & Rahman, Saidur & Yilbas, Bekir S. & Sahin, Ahmet Z., 2017. "Heat transfer enhancement of phase change materials for thermal energy storage applications: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 26-50.
    7. Duan, Juan & Peng, Zeyu, 2022. "Numerical investigation of nano-enhanced phase change material melting in the 3D annular tube with spiral fins," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 251-263.
    8. Pahamli, Y. & Hosseini, M.J. & Ardahaie, S. Saedi & Ranjbar, A.A., 2022. "Improvement of a phase change heat storage system by Blossom-Shaped Fins: Energy analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 192-215.
    9. Shahsavar, Amin & Goodarzi, Abbas & Mohammed, Hayder I. & Shirneshan, Alireza & Talebizadehsardari, Pouyan, 2020. "Thermal performance evaluation of non-uniform fin array in a finned double-pipe latent heat storage system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Liang, Yan & Yang, Haibin & Wang, Huilong & Bao, Xiaohua & Cui, Hongzhi, 2024. "Enhancing energy efficiency of air conditioning system through optimization of PCM-based cold energy storage tank: A data center case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    2. Xu, Yang & He, Chen & Chen, Yang & Sun, Yu & Yin, Hang & Zheng, Zhang-Jing, 2023. "Experimental and numerical study on the effect of the intelligent memory metal fin on the melting and solidification process of PCM," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    3. Kirincic, Mateo & Trp, Anica & Lenic, Kristian & Batista, Josip, 2024. "Latent thermal energy storage performance enhancement through optimization of geometry parameters," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 365(C).
    4. Wu, Chunlei & Wang, Qing & Wang, Xinmin & Sun, Shipeng & Bai, Jingru & Cui, Da & Pan, Shuo & Sheng, Hongyu, 2024. "Effect of Al2O3 nanoparticle dispersion on the thermal properties of a eutectic salt for solar power applications: Experimental and molecular simulation studies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    5. Huang, Shengyao & Lv, Laiquan & Zhou, Hao, 2024. "Thermal characteristics of a small-scale medium- and high-temperature latent heat storage system at different inlet flow rates and their influencing factors," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    6. Wenya Xu & Yanxue Li & Guanjie He & Yang Xu & Weijun Gao, 2023. "Performance Assessment and Comparative Analysis of Photovoltaic-Battery System Scheduling in an Existing Zero-Energy House Based on Reinforcement Learning Control," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-19, June.
    7. Wang, Zhen & Wang, Yanlin & Yang, Laishun & Cui, Yi & Song, Lei & Yue, Guangxi, 2024. "Multi-objective optimization of heat charging performance of phase change materials in tree-shaped perforated fin heat exchangers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).
    8. Lv, Laiquan & Huang, Shengyao & Zou, Yang & Wang, Xinyi & Zhou, Hao, 2024. "Thermal performance investigation of a medium-temperature pilot-scale latent heat thermal energy storage system: The constant and step temperatures charging and discharging," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    9. Li, Xiuzhen & Chen, Sen & Tan, Yingying & Tian, Guo & Wang, Zhanwei & Tang, Songzhen & Wang, Lin, 2024. "Thermal storage performance of a novel shell-and-tube latent heat storage system: Active role of inner tube improvement and fin distribution optimization," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).

    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. Fei Ma & Tianji Zhu & Yalin Zhang & Xinli Lu & Wei Zhang & Feng Ma, 2023. "A Review on Heat Transfer Enhancement of Phase Change Materials Using Fin Tubes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-25, January.
    2. Wang, Zeyu & Diao, Yanhua & Zhao, Yaohua & Chen, Chuanqi & Wang, Tengyue & Liang, Lin, 2023. "Experimental and numerical studies of thermal transport in a latent heat storage unit with a plate fin and a flat heat pipe," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    3. Zhang, Shuai & Li, Ying & Yan, Yuying, 2024. "Hybrid sensible-latent heat thermal energy storage using natural stones to enhance heat transfer: Energy, exergy, and economic analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    4. 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).
    5. Beyne, W. & T'Jollyn, I. & Lecompte, S. & Cabeza, L.F. & De Paepe, M., 2023. "Standardised methods for the determination of key performance indicators for thermal energy storage heat exchangers," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    6. Zhang, Shuai & Yan, Yuying, 2023. "Evaluation and optimisation of hybrid sensible-latent heat thermal energy storage unit with natural stones to enhance heat transfer," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    7. Mao, Qianjun & Zhu, Yuanyuan & Li, Tao, 2023. "Study on heat storage performance of a novel bifurcated finned shell-tube heat storage tank," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PA).
    8. Zhanjun Guo & Wu Zhou & Sen Liu & Zhangyang Kang & Rufei Tan, 2023. "Effects of Geometric Parameters and Heat-Transfer Fluid Injection Direction on Enhanced Phase-Change Energy Storage in Vertical Shell-and-Tube System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-21, August.
    9. Zhao, Yaohua & Liu, Zichu & Quan, Zhenhua & Jing, Heran & Yang, Mingguang, 2022. "Experimental investigation and multi-objective optimization of ice thermal storage device with multichannel flat tube," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 28-46.
    10. Zhangyang Kang & Wu Zhou & Kaijie Qiu & Chaojie Wang & Zhaolong Qin & Bingyang Zhang & Qiongqiong Yao, 2023. "Numerical Simulation of an Indirect Contact Mobilized Thermal Energy Storage Container with Different Tube Bundle Layout and Fin Structure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-13, March.
    11. Sodhi, Gurpreet Singh & Muthukumar, P., 2021. "Compound charging and discharging enhancement in multi-PCM system using non-uniform fin distribution," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 299-314.
    12. Ait Laasri, Imad & Es-sakali, Niima & Charai, Mouatassim & Mghazli, Mohamed Oualid & Outzourhit, Abdelkader, 2024. "Recent progress, limitations, and future directions of macro-encapsulated phase change materials for building applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    13. Kasper, Lukas & Pernsteiner, Dominik & Schirrer, Alexander & Jakubek, Stefan & Hofmann, René, 2023. "Experimental characterization, parameter identification and numerical sensitivity analysis of a novel hybrid sensible/latent thermal energy storage prototype for industrial retrofit applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 344(C).
    14. Li, Xiuzhen & Chen, Sen & Tan, Yingying & Tian, Guo & Wang, Zhanwei & Tang, Songzhen & Wang, Lin, 2024. "Thermal storage performance of a novel shell-and-tube latent heat storage system: Active role of inner tube improvement and fin distribution optimization," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    15. Huang, Yongping & Yao, Feng & Liu, Xiangdong, 2021. "Numerical study on the thermal enhancement of horizontal latent heat storage units with hierarchical fins," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 383-397.
    16. Zhang, Shuai & Yan, Yuying, 2022. "Evaluation of discharging performance of molten salt/ceramic foam composite phase change material in a shell-and-tube latent heat thermal energy storage unit," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 1210-1223.
    17. Abdi, Amir & Martin, Viktoria & Chiu, Justin N.W., 2019. "Numerical investigation of melting in a cavity with vertically oriented fins," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 1027-1040.
    18. Xu, Yang & He, Chen & Chen, Yang & Sun, Yu & Yin, Hang & Zheng, Zhang-Jing, 2023. "Experimental and numerical study on the effect of the intelligent memory metal fin on the melting and solidification process of PCM," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    19. Lu, Shilei & Zhai, Xue & Gao, Jingxian & Wang, Ran, 2022. "Performance optimization and experimental analysis of a novel low-temperature latent heat thermal energy storage device," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PE).
    20. Huang, Xinyu & Li, Fangfei & Xiao, Tian & Li, Yuanji & Yang, Xiaohu & He, Ya-Ling, 2023. "Structural optimization of melting process of a latent heat energy storage unit and application of flip mechanism," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).

    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:renene:v:203:y:2023:i:c:p:518-528. 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.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    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.