A novel dual-PCM configuration to improve simultaneous energy storage and recovery in triplex-tube heat exchanger

Author(s):  
M Mozafari ◽  
Ann Lee ◽  
Shaokoon Cheng
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2685
Author(s):  
Mohammad Ghalambaz ◽  
Jasim M. Mahdi ◽  
Amirhossein Shafaghat ◽  
Amir Hossein Eisapour ◽  
Obai Younis ◽  
...  

This study aims to assess the effect of adding twisted fins in a triple-tube heat exchanger used for latent heat storage compared with using straight fins and no fins. In the proposed heat exchanger, phase change material (PCM) is placed between the middle annulus while hot water is passed in the inner tube and outer annulus in a counter-current direction, as a superior method to melt the PCM and store the thermal energy. The behavior of the system was assessed regarding the liquid fraction and temperature distributions as well as charging time and energy storage rate. The results indicate the advantages of adding twisted fins compared with those of using straight fins. The effect of several twisted fins was also studied to discover its effectiveness on the melting rate. The results demonstrate that deployment of four twisted fins reduced the melting time by 18% compared with using the same number of straight fins, and 25% compared with the no-fins case considering a similar PCM mass. Moreover, the melting time for the case of using four straight fins was 8.3% lower than that compared with the no-fins case. By raising the fins’ number from two to four and six, the heat storage rate rose 14.2% and 25.4%, respectively. This study presents the effects of novel configurations of fins in PCM-based thermal energy storage to deliver innovative products toward commercialization, which can be manufactured with additive manufacturing.


2018 ◽  
Vol 70 ◽  
pp. 01010
Author(s):  
Marta Kuta ◽  
Dominika Matuszewska ◽  
Tadeusz Michał Wójcik

Increasing energy consumption in residential and public buildings requires development of new technologies for thermal energy production and storage. One of possibilities for the second listed need is the use of phase change materials (PCMs). This work is focused on solutions in this area and consists of two parts. First one is focused on different designs of thermal energy storage (TES) tanks based on the phase change materials. The second part is the analysis of tests results for TES tank containing shelf and tube heat exchanger and filled with phase change material. Thermal energy storage tank is analyzed in order to use it in domestic heating and hot utility water installations. The aim of this research was to check the applicability of phase change material for mentioned purpose. Results show that using phase change materials for thermal energy storage can increase amount of stored heat. The use of properly selected PCM and heat exchanger enables the process of thermal energy storing and releasing to become more efficient.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander S. Fredrickson ◽  
Anthony G. Pollman ◽  
Anthony J. Gannon ◽  
Walter C. Smith

Abstract This paper presents the results of a theoretical analysis of a heat exchanger design for the challenging application of a small-scale modified Linde-Hampson cycle liquid air energy storage system (LAESS). A systems engineering approach was taken to determine the best heat exchanger alternative for incorporation into an existing LAESS. Two primary heat exchanger designs were analyzed and compared: a finned tube heat exchanger (FTHE) design and a printed circuit heat exchanger (PCHE) design. These designs were chosen as alternatives due to the gas-to-gas cooling that occurs in the heat exchanger, and material selection was based on the requirement for the heat exchanger to withstand the cryogenic temperatures required for the system to produce liquid nitrogen. Thermodynamic analysis was conducted using the ε-NTU method and fin theory to determine the dimensional requirements for the finned tube heat exchanger and a trade-off study was conducted to compare the alternatives. Based on the results from the study, the PCHE was the preferred alternative due to an inherent small footprint, comparable cost to manufacture, simple integration into the LAESS and inherent safety features that are critical when working with high pressure systems. Future work will include subsystem and system integration and testing to obtain a consistently functional prototype that produces liquid nitrogen.


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