Research on the heat transfer characteristics of phase change cold storage gels in tube and fin cold storage equipment

doi:10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2023.0682

Abstract

Abstract:

Phase change cold storage gels have considerable potential for applications in cold chain transportation owing to their good stability. However, their high viscosity and low fluidity inhibit the natural convection during the phase change process, which affect the heat transfer performance of cold storage equipment, thereby reducing the efficiency of cold energy utilization. Herein, a two-dimensional CFD model for tube-fin-type cold storage equipment was established and the influence of the fluidity of phase change cold storage gel on its heat transfer performance was investigated based on the melting-solidification model of FLUENT software. The study compares the cold charging efficiencies of various structural cold storage equipment, introduces the dimensionless number e to represent structural cold charging efficiency, and explores the effect of various structures of cold storage equipment on the cold charging process. Results reveal that the cooling time for cold storage gel with natural convection is 12% shorter than that without natural convection at -5 ℃. Furthermore, under the effectof gravity field, the mobility of cold storage gel varies across different areas and times. Notably, during the early stage of the solidification process and in the cold storage gel above the cold storage equipment, the flow rate of cold storage gel is faster and flow field range is larger, resulting in faster heat transfer. The double-tube structure exhibits a higher cooling efficiency. This study helps to advance the application of cold storage equipment in cold chain transportation and offers a theoretical basis for optimizing the structure of cold storage equipment.

Key words: cold chain transportation, phase change cold storage, natural convection, numerical simulation, heat transfer analysis

CLC Number:

TK 11

Zhenwei TAN, Mu LI, Chuanchang LI. Research on the heat transfer characteristics of phase change cold storage gels in tube and fin cold storage equipment[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2023, 12(12): 3740-3748.

Figures/Tables 13

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部件	参数
管道	—
材料	不锈钢
内径	10 mm
厚度	1 mm
水平间距	34 mm
翅片	—
材料	不锈钢
尺寸	34 mm×436 mm
厚度	0.5 mm
翅片数量	48
容器	—
材料	隔热聚乙烯
内部尺寸	1034 mm×398 mm×88 mm
厚度	5 mm

材料	物性	参数值
相变储冷凝胶	相变温度(T_solidus/T_liquidus)/℃	0.8/2.7
	相变潜热/(kJ/kg)	137.7
	显热/[J/(kg·K)]	1340
	导热系数/[W/(m·K)]	0.435
	密度/(g/cm³)	1.47
	黏度/(mPa·s)	82.03
304不锈钢	密度/(g/cm³)	7.85
	显热/[J/(kg·K)]	460
	导热系数/[W/(m·K)]	16

结构	金属质量增加率/%	充冷时间缩短率/%	无量纲e
单管2翅片	1.98	0.44	0.22
单管4翅片	2.97	0.56	0.19
双管0翅片	2.00	0.76	0.38
双管2翅片	2.58	0.83	0.32
双管4翅片	3.16	0.87	0.28

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