Experimental investigations on the thermal energy storage performance of shell and tube unit with composite phase change materials

• This work presented experimental investigations on the thermal energy storage performance of the shell and tube unit with composite phase change materials (PCM). A cylindrical heat storage tank filled with open-cell copper foam was proposed and its melting process characteristics were studied. A designed test system was established to record the PCM real-time temperature data. The results showed that, compared with traditional smooth-tube phase-change heat exchangers, the composite PCM unit accelerated the bottom paraffin melting. The temperature disparity among different height reduced, which resulted in better internal temperature uniformity. Due to the expanded heat transfer area, improved heat transfer coefficient and weakened natural convection, the bottom phase-change materials in the composite-PCM heat-storage unit melt faster.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Maskinteknik -- Energiteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Mechanical Engineering -- Energy Engineering (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Fined tube

Melting phase change

Metal foam

Thermal energy storage

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)