scholarly journals Fixed Grid Numerical Models for Solidification and Melting of Phase Change Materials (PCMs)

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (20) ◽  
pp. 4334 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Henrique Nazzi Ehms ◽  
Rejane De Césaro Oliveski ◽  
Luiz Alberto Oliveira Rocha ◽  
Cesare Biserni ◽  
Massimo Garai
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Model ◽  
Boundary Conditions ◽  
Phase Change ◽  
Latent Heat ◽  
Phase Change Materials ◽  
Source Term ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Fixed Grid ◽  
Numerical Studies ◽  
The Impact

Phase change materials (PCMs) are classified according to their phase change process, temperature, and composition. The utilization of PCMs lies mainly in the field of solar energy and building applications as well as in industrial processes. The main advantage of such materials is the use of latent heat, which allows the storage of a large amount of thermal energy with small temperature variation, improving the energy efficiency of the system. The study of PCMs using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is widespread and has been documented in several papers, following the tendency that CFD nowadays tends to become increasingly widespread. Numerical studies of solidification and melting processes use a combination of formulations to describe the physical phenomena related to such processes, these being mainly the latent heat and the velocity transition between the liquid and the solid phases. The methods used to describe the latent heat are divided into three main groups: source term methods (E-STM), enthalpy methods (E-EM), and temperature-transforming models (E-TTM). The description of the velocity transition is, in turn, divided into three main groups: switch-off methods (SOM), source term methods (STM), and variable viscosity methods (VVM). Since a full numerical model uses a combination of at least one of the methods for each phenomenon, several combinations are possible. The main objective of the present paper was to review the numerical approaches used to describe solidification and melting processes in fixed grid models. In the first part of the present review, we focus on the PCM classification and applications, as well as analyze the main features of solidification and melting processes in different container shapes and boundary conditions. Regarding numerical models adopted in phase-change processes, the review is focused on the fixed grid methods used to describe both latent heat and velocity transition between the phases. Additionally, we discuss the most common simplifications and boundary conditions used when studying solidification and melting processes, as well as the impact of such simplifications on computational cost. Afterwards, we compare the combinations of formulations used in numerical studies of solidification and melting processes, concluding that “enthalpy–porosity” is the most widespread numerical model used in PCM studies. Moreover, several combinations of formulations are barely explored. Regarding the simulation performance, we also show a new basic method that can be employed to evaluate the computing performance in transient numerical simulations.

scholarly journals The Impact of Additives on the Main Properties of Phase Change Materials

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 3064 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewelina Radomska ◽  
Lukasz Mika ◽  
Karol Sztekler
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Phase Change ◽  
Latent Heat ◽  
Phase Change Materials ◽  
High Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Liquid Transition ◽  
Supercooling Degree ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Solid Liquid ◽  
The Impact

The main drawback of phase change materials (PCMs) is their low thermal conductivity, which limits the possibilities of a wide range of implementations. Therefore, the researchers, as found in the literature, proposed several methods to improve the thermal conductivity of PCMs, including inserting high thermal conductivity materials in nano-, micro-, and macro-scales, as well as encapsulation of PCMs. However, these inserts impact the other properties of PCMs like latent heat, melting temperature, thermal stability, and cycling stability. Hence, this paper aims to review the available in the open literature research on the main properties of enhanced PCMs that undergo solid–liquid transition. It is found that inserting high thermal conductivity materials and encapsulation results in improved thermal conductivity of PCMs, but it decreases their latent heat. Moreover, the insertions can act as nucleating agents, and the supercooling degree can be reduced. Some of the thermal conductivity enhancers (TCEs) may prevent PCMs from leakage. However, some test results are inconsistent and some seem to be questionable. Therefore, this review indicates these discrepancies and gaps in knowledge and points out possible directions for further research.

Selection of Phase Change Materials for Latent Heat Storage

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Martínez-Gómez ◽  
E. Urresta ◽  
D. Gaona ◽  
G. Guerrón
Keyword(s):  
Phase Change ◽  
Latent Heat ◽  
Phase Change Materials ◽  
Heat Storage ◽  
Latent Heat Storage ◽  
Toma De Decisiones ◽  
Selection Of

Esta investigación tiene como objetivo seleccionar un material de cambio de fase (PCM) que cumplen mejor la solución del almacenamiento de energía térmica entre 200-400 ° C y reducir el costo de producción. El uso de métodos multicriterios de toma de decisiones (MCMD) para la evaluación fueron proporcionales implementados como COPRAS-G, TOPSIS y VIKOR. La ponderación de los criterios se realizó por el método AHP (proceso analítico jerárquico) y los métodos de entropía. La correlación de los resultados entre los tres métodos de clasificación ha sido desarrollada por el coeficiente de correlación de Spearman. Los resultados ilustran el mejor y la segundo mejor opción para los tres MCDM fueron NaOH y KNO3. Además, tenía valores de correlación de Spearman entre los métodos excede de 0.714.

scholarly journals Nano-Enhanced Phase Change Materials in Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Systems: A Review

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 3821
Author(s):  
Kassianne Tofani ◽  
Saeed Tiari
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Phase Change ◽  
Latent Heat ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Phase Change Materials ◽  
Storage Systems ◽  
Heat Pipes ◽  
Energy Storage Systems ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage Systems

Latent heat thermal energy storage systems (LHTES) are useful for solar energy storage and many other applications, but there is an issue with phase change materials (PCMs) having low thermal conductivity. This can be enhanced with fins, metal foam, heat pipes, multiple PCMs, and nanoparticles (NPs). This paper reviews nano-enhanced PCM (NePCM) alone and with additional enhancements. Low, middle, and high temperature PCM are classified, and the achievements and limitations of works are assessed. The review is categorized based upon enhancements: solely NPs, NPs and fins, NPs and heat pipes, NPs with highly conductive porous materials, NPs and multiple PCMs, and nano-encapsulated PCMs. Both experimental and numerical methods are considered, focusing on how well NPs enhanced the system. Generally, NPs have been proven to enhance PCM, with some types more effective than others. Middle and high temperatures are lacking compared to low temperature, as well as combined enhancement studies. Al2O3, copper, and carbon are some of the most studied NP materials, and paraffin PCM is the most common by far. Some studies found NPs to be insignificant in comparison to other enhancements, but many others found them to be beneficial. This article also suggests future work for NePCM and LHTES systems.

Sunlight-Activated Phase Change Materials for Controlled Heat Storage and Triggered Release

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuran Shi ◽  
Mihael Gerkman ◽  
Qianfeng Qiu ◽  
Shuren Zhang ◽  
Grace G. D. Han
Keyword(s):  
Phase Transition ◽  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Phase Change ◽  
Latent Heat ◽  
Photon Energy ◽  
Organic Phase ◽  
Phase Change Materials ◽  
Heat Storage ◽  
Triggered Release

We report the design of photo-responsive organic phase change materials that can absorb filtered solar radiation to store both latent heat and photon energy via simultaneous phase transition and photo-isomerization....

scholarly journals A Review of Composite Phase Change Materials Based on Porous Silica Nanomaterials for Latent Heat Storage Applications

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 241
Author(s):  
Raul-Augustin Mitran ◽  
Simona Ioniţǎ ◽  
Daniel Lincu ◽  
Daniela Berger ◽  
Cristian Matei
Keyword(s):  
Phase Change ◽  
Latent Heat ◽  
Phase Change Materials ◽  
Heat Storage ◽  
Porous Silica ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
High Porosity ◽  
Storage Materials ◽  
Silica Nanomaterials ◽  
Heat Storage Materials

Phase change materials (PCMs) can store thermal energy as latent heat through phase transitions. PCMs using the solid-liquid phase transition offer high 100–300 J g−1 enthalpy at constant temperature. However, pure compounds suffer from leakage, incongruent melting and crystallization, phase separation, and supercooling, which limit their heat storage capacity and reliability during multiple heating-cooling cycles. An appropriate approach to mitigating these drawbacks is the construction of composites as shape-stabilized phase change materials which retain their macroscopic solid shape even at temperatures above the melting point of the active heat storage compound. Shape-stabilized materials can be obtained by PCMs impregnation into porous matrices. Porous silica nanomaterials are promising matrices due to their high porosity and adsorption capacity, chemical and thermal stability and possibility of changing their structure through chemical synthesis. This review offers a first in-depth look at the various methods for obtaining composite PCMs using porous silica nanomaterials, their properties, and applications. The synthesis and properties of porous silica composites are presented based on the main classes of compounds which can act as heat storage materials (paraffins, fatty acids, polymers, small organic molecules, hydrated salts, molten salts and metals). The physico-chemical phenomena arising from the nanoconfinement of phase change materials into the silica pores are discussed from both theoretical and practical standpoints. The lessons learned so far in designing efficient composite PCMs using porous silica matrices are presented, as well as the future perspectives on improving the heat storage materials.

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