Enhanced Efficiency of Latent Heat Energy Storage by Inclination
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Latent heat storage (LHS) has emerged as a promising solution for addressing the challenges of large-scale and long-term energy storage, offering a clean and reusable system. Being in the developmental stage, and with only limited theoretical predictions being available, there is a need to enhance the efficiency of LHS systems. In this study, we use numerical simulations to study the melting process of a phase-change material (PCM) in a rectangular domain. A significant enhancement in the melt rate of the PCM is found by a simple inclination of the domain, with a 60% increase in melt rate compared to a standard square unit without inclination through enhanced heat transfer. We establish a theoretical relation for the optimal PCM melt rate, based on the inclination angle and the domain aspect ratio, outlining the optimal conditions for the PCM melt rate, which is solely dependent on the domain geometry. We further propose a heat-transfer model that predicts the optimal aspect ratio for achieving the maximum melt rate as a function of the Rayleigh and Prandtl numbers. Published by the American Physical Society 2024
Source: PRX Energy
Institutions: Max Planck Society, Princeton University, Max Planck University of Twente Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente, University College Dublin, University of Science and Technology of China, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Gran Sasso Science Institute, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Awards: G61450481, G6193697810
OpenAlex ID: W4404061178