Topology-optimized heattransfer structure design for fast melting in phase change thermal energy storage units

doi:10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2025.0352

Abstract

Abstract:

Phase change thermal energy storage (PCTES) systems utilize the latent heat absorbed or released during material phase transitions to store and discharge thermal energy. These systems offer key advantages such as high energy density, stable temperature operation, and compact volume. This study integrates topology optimization into the design of shell-and-tube PCTES units to accelerate the melting process and improve overall thermal performance. A mathematical optimization model is developed using dimensionless governing equations to investigate the effects of thermal diffusivity ratio, Stefan number, and natural convection on the evolution of fin geometries. Topology-optimized structures are reconstructed geometrically, followed by numerical simulations and performance comparisons with conventional straight-fin structures and non-reconstructed optimized designs. The key findings are as follows: (1) Natural convection exerts a significant influence on the topology-optimized structure, resulting in notable differences between conduction-dominated and convection-enhanced designs. (2) A lower thermal diffusivity ratio or a higher Stefan number promotes radial expansion of the fin structures, enhancing heat transfer pathways. (3) Among five evaluated configurations, topology-optimized designs demonstrate substantial improvements in thermal charging efficiency. Specifically, the convection-enhanced design reduces the time required to reach an average dimensionless temperature of 0.9 by 30.1%, and shortens the total phase transition duration by 50.8%. The results also indicate that conduction- and convection-optimized designs offer distinct advantages depending on the application context and storage objectives, underscoring the importance of scenario-specific optimization. This work provides a novel approach and practical insights for the efficient design of phase change thermal energy storage systems across various thermal management applications.

Key words: phase change thermal energy storage, topology optimization, heat transfer enhancement, numerical simulation, fin structure

CLC Number:

TK 02

Xin XIE, Xinjie XUE, Changying ZHAO. Topology-optimized heattransfer structure design for fast melting in phase change thermal energy storage units[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2025, 14(10): 4027-4036.

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参数	数值
s	0.005
Ste	0.2
Pr	45
Gr	10⁵
p	1.5~3
β	2~5
θ_β	0.5
高导热材料体积分数	12.5%
过滤半径	0.0192