Numerical simulation study on the thermal storage performance of eccentric tubular phase change thermal storage units filled with composite phase change materials/metal foam

doi:10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2024.1080

Abstract

Abstract:

To effectively enhance the thermal storage performance of phase change thermal storage units, this study employs numerical simulation methods to analyze the melting performance and structural optimization of an eccentric three-tube phase change thermal storage unit filled with composite phase change materials (PCMs)/ metal foam. The study examines the effects of three key factors: eccentricity, the temperature difference between the heat transfer fluid and the phase transition temperature (ΔT),and the pore density of the metal foam on thermal energy storage performance. The results reveal that eccentricity plays a critical role in the thermal storage performance of the three-tube heat reservoir. The melting synergy between the top and bottom regions of the structure is optimal when the positive eccentricity is low. In addition, the melting rate of PCMs increases first and then decreases as eccentricity rises, with the optimal eccentricity determined to be 2/15. Under this condition, the complete melting time is shortened by 12.36% compared to a concentric tube structure. However, at eccentricities of H≤-1/15 or H≥4/15, the eccentric setting inhibits heat transfer compared to the concentric tube structure. Further findings indicate that increasing ΔT significantly improves thermal storage efficiency. The optimal ΔT for different eccentric structures is identified as 10 ℃. Reducing the pore density of the metal foam improves natural convection heat transfer within the pores during the PCM melting process. With ΔT=10 ℃ and an eccentricity of 2/15, reducing the pore density from 50 PPI to 30 PPI increases the melting rate by 4.52%.

Key words: eccentric tube thermal storage unit, phase change materials, metal foam, heat transfer enhancement, numerical simulation

CLC Number:

TK 02

Yiming LI, Jinghao YAN, Li'na XI, Xiaobing SUN, Minggao LIU, Jie LI, Xiaoqin SUN. Numerical simulation study on the thermal storage performance of eccentric tubular phase change thermal storage units filled with composite phase change materials/metal foam[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2025, 14(5): 1931-1942.

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材料	参数	数值
石蜡RT82	比热容/[kJ/(kg∙℃)]	2
	密度/(kg/m³)	770
	热导率/[W/(m∙℃)]	0.2
	黏度/[kg/(m∙s)]	0.03499
	热膨胀系数/℃^-1	0.001
	潜热/(kJ/kg)	176
	固相温度/℃	77
	液相温度/℃	85

铜	比热容/[kJ/(kg∙℃)]	0.38
	密度/(kg/m³)	8920
	热导率/[W/(m∙℃)]	400

工况编号	换热温差	偏心率H
Case5	5 ℃	0 2/15 -4/15 0 2/15 -4/15 0 2/15 -4/15
Case7	5 ℃
Case1	5 ℃
Case10	10 ℃
Case11	10 ℃
Case12	10 ℃
Case13	15℃
Case14	15 ℃
Case15	15 ℃
Case16	20 ℃	0
Case17	20 ℃	2/15
Case18	20 ℃	-4/15

工况编号	孔密度	偏心率H
Case19	50PPI	0
Case20	50PPI	2/15
Case21	50PPI	-4/15
Case10	40PPI	0
Case11	40PPI	2/15
Case12	40PPI	-4/15
Case22	30PPI	0
Case23	30PPI	2/15
Case24	30PPI	-4/15

工况编号	完全熔化时间/s	储能时间优化率/%
Case5	10065	0
Case10	6601	34.42
Case13	5067	49.66
Case16	4197	58.30
Case7	8821	0
Case11	5651	35.94
Case14	4327	50.95
Case17	3562	59.62
Case1	13104	0
Case12	8941	31.77
Case15	7221	45.66
Case18	6008	54.15

单位温升范围/℃	偏心率H	储能时间优化率/%
5→10	0	34.42
5→10	2/15	23.24
5→10	-4/15	17.17
10→15	0	35.94
10→15	2/15	23.43
10→15	-4/15	17.68
15→20	0	31.77
15→20	2/15	20.36
15→20	-4/15	15.63