NUMERICAL STUDY OF EFFECT OF PHASE CHANGE MATERIAL FILLING METHOD ON THREE SETS OF TUBULAR PHASE CHANGE HEAT STORAGE UNITS

Han Zhonghe; Deng Xiaoyu; Li Hengfan

doi:10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2024-2332

PDF(3511 KB)

Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (5) : 479-488. DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2024-2332

NUMERICAL STUDY OF EFFECT OF PHASE CHANGE MATERIAL FILLING METHOD ON THREE SETS OF TUBULAR PHASE CHANGE HEAT STORAGE UNITS

Han Zhonghe, Deng Xiaoyu, Li Hengfan

Author information +

History +

Abstract

This study investigates triplex-tube phase change thermal storage units. First, the variation trends of liquid phase fraction and average temperature during the heat storage process for single- and double-tube filled models with phase change material （PCM） filling rates ranging from 30% to 80% are analyzed. The total heat storage capacity, melting time, and average heat storage rate of the PCM are compared. Secondly, using melting time and total heat storage capacity as evaluation metrics, the entropy weight method （EWM） and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution （TOPSIS） method are applied to assess the optimal PCM filling rate. The results show that a 60% PCM filling rate yields the best thermal performance. Further analysis of the temperature field and vorticity evolution reveals the mechanism by which gravity-driven natural convection enhances heat transfer. In addition, a single-tube model with a 60% PCM filling rate is used to study the influence of the radial position of PCM on heat transfer performance. The results indicate that as the PCM filling rate increases, the unit heat storage rate decreases, while the total heat storage capacity increases. When the filling rate exceeds 40%, the vortex generation rate in the single-tube model becomes faster than in the double-tube model, leading to enhanced natural convection by the vortex. Therefore, the single-tube filling model exhibits superior thermal storage performance compared to the double-tube model. Furthermore, a radial PCM filling method closer to the outer tube wall promotes vortex formation. Under constant outer tube diameter and PCM filling rate, the closer the PCM is to the outer tube, the shorter the complete melting time and the better the melting performance.

Key words

heat storage / natural convection / phase change materials / triplex-tube phase change thermal energy storage unit / filling rate / radial position

Cite this article

EndNote

Ris (Procite)

Bibtex

Download Citations

Han Zhonghe, Deng Xiaoyu, Li Hengfan. NUMERICAL STUDY OF EFFECT OF PHASE CHANGE MATERIAL FILLING METHOD ON THREE SETS OF TUBULAR PHASE CHANGE HEAT STORAGE UNITS[J]. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica. 2026, 47(5): 479-488 https://doi.org/10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2024-2332

References

[1] MAHDI M S, MAHOOD H B, MAHDI J M, et al.Improved PCM melting in a thermal energy storage system of double-pipe helical-coil tube[J]. Energy conversion and management, 2020, 203: 112238.
[2] SONI V, KUMAR A, JAIN V K.Performance evaluation of nano-enhanced phase change materials during discharge stage in waste heat recovery[J]. Renewable energy, 2018, 127: 587-601.
[3] 吴丽梅, 刘庆欣, 王晓龙, 等. 相变储能材料研究进展[J]. 材料导报, 2021, 35(S1): 501-506.
WU L M, LIU Q X, WANG X L, et al.Review on phase change energy storage materials[J]. Materials reports, 2021, 35(S1): 501-506.
[4] SEDDEGH S, WANG X L, HENDERSON A D, et al.Solar domestic hot water systems using latent heat energy storage medium: a review[J]. Renewable and sustainable energy reviews, 2015, 49: 517-533.
[5] 于静梅, 刘耀鸿, 张凤忠, 等. 翅片强化相变储能蓄热性能的数值研究[J]. 太阳能学报, 2023, 44(6): 78-83.
YU J M, LIU Y H, ZHANG F Z, et al.Numerical study of heat storage performance in phase change energy storage enhanced by fins[J]. Acta energiae solaris sinica, 2023, 44(6): 78-83.
[6] ELSANUSI O S, NSOFOR E C.Melting of multiple PCMs with different arrangements inside a heat exchanger for energy storage[J]. Applied thermal engineering, 2021, 185: 116046.
[7] YAO Y P, WU H Y.Pore-scale simulation of melting process of paraffin with volume change in high porosity open-cell metal foam[J]. International journal of thermal sciences, 2019, 138: 322-340.
[8] BAZAI H, MOGHIMI M A, MOHAMMED H I, et al.Numerical study of circular-elliptical double-pipe thermal energy storage systems[J]. Journal of energy storage, 2020, 30: 101440.
[9] MODI N, WANG X L, NEGNEVITSKY M.Melting and solidification characteristics of a semi-rotational eccentric tube horizontal latent heat thermal energy storage[J]. Applied thermal engineering, 2022, 214: 118812.
[10] CHEN G J, SUN G X, JIANG D Y, et al.Experimental and numerical investigation of the latent heat thermal storage unit with PCM packing at the inner side of a tube[J]. International journal of heat and mass transfer, 2020, 152: 119480.
[11] ZAIB A, MAZHAR A R, AZIZ S, et al.Heat transfer augmentation using duplex and triplex tube phase change material (PCM) heat exchanger configurations[J]. Energies, 2023, 16(10): 4037.
[12] 贾仲琪. 三套管式相变蓄热单元蓄放热特性的数值模拟研究[D]. 包头: 内蒙古科技大学, 2022.
JIA Z Q.Numerical simulation research on heat storage and release characteristics of triplex tube phase change heat storage unit[D]. Baotou: Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, 2022.
[13] MAHDI J M, LOHRASBI S, GANJI D D, et al.Accelerated melting of PCM in energy storage systems via novel configuration of fins in the triplex-tube heat exchanger[J]. International journal of heat and mass transfer, 2018, 124: 663-676.
[14] YANG K, ZHU N, CHANG C, et al.Numerical analysis of phase-change material melting in triplex tube heat exchanger[J]. Renewable energy, 2020, 145: 867-877.
[15] PATEL J R, RATHOD M K.Thermal performance enhancement of melting and solidification process of phase-change material in triplex tube heat exchanger using longitudinal fins[J]. Heat transfer: Asian research, 2019, 48(2): 483-501.
[16] 牛福新, 倪龙, 姚杨, 等. 三套管蓄能换热器的蓄热特性研究[J]. 湖南大学学报(自然科学版), 2011, 38(7): 69-72.
NIU F X, NI L, YAO Y, et al.Heat storage characteristics of triple-sleeve energy storage exchangers[J]. Journal of Hunan University(natural sciences), 2011, 38(7): 69-72.
[17] BAŞAL B, ÜNAL A. Numerical evaluation of a triple concentric-tube latent heat thermal energy storage[J]. Solar energy, 2013, 92: 196-205.
[18] HE F, BO R F, HU C X, et al.Employing spiral fins to improve the thermal performance of phase-change materials in shell-tube latent heat storage units[J]. Renewable energy, 2023, 203: 518-528.
[19] 杨锡运, 刘欢, 张彬, 等. 基于熵权法的光伏输出功率组合预测模型[J]. 太阳能学报, 2014, 35(5): 744-749.
YANG X Y, LIU H, ZHANG B, et al.A combination method for photovoltaic power forecasting based on entropy weight method[J]. Acta energiae solaris sinica, 2014, 35(5): 744-749.
[20] 刘磊, 贺小明. 基于TOPSIS法的火电厂配煤方案安全性评价研究[J]. 煤炭技术, 2015, 34(8): 315-317.
LIU L, HE X M.Research on safe evaluation of coal blending schemes in thermal power plant based on TOPSIS method[J]. Coal technology, 2015, 34(8): 315-317.
[21] 王天东, 何子睿, 单晓芳, 等. 基于熵权-TOPSIS的光电光热制冷系统评价与分析[J]. 太阳能学报, 2023, 44(9): 229-235.
WANG T D, HE Z R, SHAN X F, et al.Evaluation and analysis of photovoltaic and photothermal refrigeration system based on entropy weight-TOPSIS[J]. Acta energiae solaris sinica, 2023, 44(9): 229-235.