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Validation of a CFD model for the simulation of heat transfer in a tubes-in-tank PCM storage unit

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  • Allouche, Yosr
  • Varga, Szabolcs
  • Bouden, Chiheb
  • Oliveira, Armando C.

Abstract

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was developed for the simulation of a phase change thermal energy storage process in a 100 l cylindrical tank, horizontally placed. The model is validated with experimental data obtained for the same configuration. The cold storage unit was charged using water as the heat transfer medium, flowing inside a horizontal tube bundle, and the selected phase change material (PCM) was microencapsulated slurry in 45% w/w concentration. The mathematical model is based on the three-dimensional transient Navier–Stokes equations with nonlinear temperature dependent thermo-physical properties of the PCM during the phase change range. These properties were experimentally determined using analytical methods. The governing equations were solved using the ANSYS/FLUENT commercial software package. The mathematical model is validated with experimental data for three different flow rates of the heat transfer fluid during the charging process. Bulk temperature, heat transfer rate and amount of energy stored were used as performance indicators. It was found that the PCM bulk temperatures were predicted within 5% of the experimental data. The results have also shown that the total accumulated energy was within 10% of the observed value, and thus it can be concluded that the model predicts the heat transfer inside the storage system with good accuracy.

Suggested Citation

  • Allouche, Yosr & Varga, Szabolcs & Bouden, Chiheb & Oliveira, Armando C., 2016. "Validation of a CFD model for the simulation of heat transfer in a tubes-in-tank PCM storage unit," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 371-379.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:89:y:2016:i:c:p:371-379
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2015.12.038
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Iten, Muriel & Liu, Shuli & Shukla, Ashish, 2018. "Experimental validation of an air-PCM storage unit comparing the effective heat capacity and enthalpy methods through CFD simulations," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 495-503.
    2. Jie Huang & Fei Xu & Zilong Wang & Hua Zhang, 2023. "An Experimental Investigation on the Performance of a Water Storage Tank with Sodium Acetate Trihydrate," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-14, January.
    3. Mehdaoui, Farah & Hazami, Majdi & Messaouda, Anis & Taghouti, Hichem & Guizani, AmenAllah, 2019. "Thermal testing and numerical simulation of PCM wall integrated inside a test cell on a small scale and subjected to the thermal stresses," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 597-607.
    4. Zhang, Tao & Huo, Dongxin & Wang, Chengyao & Shi, Zhengrong, 2023. "Review of the modeling approaches of phase change processes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).

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