Effect of inclination angle on the performance of a shell and tube heat storage unit – An experimental study

Abstract This paper presents an experimental study performed with the general aim of defining procedures for calculation and optimization of shell-and-tube latent thermal energy storage unit with metals or metal alloys as PCMs. The experimental study is focused on receiving the exact information about heat transfer between heat transfer fluid (HTF) and phase change material (PCM) during energy accumulation process. Therefore, simple geometry of heat transfer area was selected. Two configurations of shell-and-tube thermal energy storage (TES) units were investigated. The paper also highlights the emerging trend (reflected in the literature) with respect to the investigation of metal PCM-based heat storage units in recent years and shortly presents unique properties and application features of this relatively new class of PCMs.

Download Full-text

Numerical study of the heat charging and discharging characteristics of a shell-and-tube phase change heat storage unit

Applied Thermal Engineering ◽

10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2013.04.063 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 58 (1-2) ◽

pp. 542-553 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Wei-Wei Wang ◽

Kun Zhang ◽

Liang-Bi Wang ◽

Ya-Ling He

Keyword(s):

Phase Change ◽

Heat Storage ◽

Numerical Study ◽

Storage Unit ◽

Shell And Tube

Download Full-text

Synergistic effects of nano-enhanced phase change material (NePCM) and fin shape on heat storage performance of a finned shell-and-tube unit: An experimental study

Journal of Energy Storage ◽

10.1016/j.est.2021.103772 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 45 ◽

pp. 103772

Author(s):

Zi-Rui Li ◽

Guo-Tao Fu ◽

Li-Wu Fan

Keyword(s):

Experimental Study ◽

Phase Change ◽

Phase Change Material ◽

Heat Storage ◽

Synergistic Effects ◽

Storage Performance ◽

Shell And Tube ◽

Change Material ◽

Fin Shape

Download Full-text

Influence of fin parameters on melting and solidification characteristics of a conical shell and tube latent heat storage unit

Journal of Energy Resources Technology ◽

10.1115/1.4051300 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-37

Author(s):

Lokesh Kalapala ◽

Jaya Krishna Devanuri

Keyword(s):

Cylindrical Shell ◽

Latent Heat ◽

Conical Shell ◽

Heat Storage ◽

Melting Time ◽

Storage Unit ◽

Latent Heat Storage ◽

Efficient Operation ◽

Shell And Tube ◽

Melting And Solidification

Abstract Augmenting meting and solidification rates of latent heat storage unit (LHSU) is very much essential for its efficient operation. By the effective utilization of natural convection, rate of heat transfer can be enhanced and the conical shell is beneficent in this regard. Employing fins further improves the charging and discharging rates. Hence the current study is focused on analyzing melting and solidification characteristics of a conical shell and tube LHSU along with the effect of fin parameters viz. fin diameter and number of fins. Numerical analysis is chosen for this purpose and the performance is compared via melting/solidification times, energy stored, energy/exergy efficiencies. Initially the performance of unfinned conical shell is compared with the cylindrical shell without fins and then the effect of fin parameters is presented. For melting process conical shell is found to be superior to cylindrical shell. 34.46% reduction in melting time is noted by employing conical shell and rate of energy stored is also higher for conical shell. Increase in fin diameter caused an increase in melting time when 20 number of fins are used, whereas melting time got decreased with the increase in fin diameter when 5 number of fins are used. Hence, when a greater number of fins are employed lesser diameter is preferred for melting. For discharging process, conical shell took 60% more time than cylindrical shell. Even after employing fins, solidification time is not drastically reduced in comparison to cylindrical shell.

Download Full-text