The heat transfer with nanomaterial enhanced phase change materials in different container shapes

Abstract

The heat transfer is studied during the melting and solidification of sp11 and sp24 phase change materials in different container shapes. The materials are further mixed with nano-alumina and nano CuO enhancements. We aim to identify the most favorable phase change material for free-cooling in summer and free-heating in winter. Ansys Fluent 20.2 is used to analyze the 2D models for the melting and solidification mechanisms of the phase change samples in cylindrical, square, rectangular, and elliptical-shaped capsules. The nanomaterial-enhanced phase change material improves the melting and solidification behavior over the base phase change material by as much as 9.8%. It is further observed that the nanomaterial-enhanced phase change material particularly in the rectangular-shaped containers has faster melting and solidification rates by over 43% compared to the others. The material sp24 with 4% nano-alumina in a rectangular profile has the shortest melting times ~70-100 mins, when the inlet temperatures are 313 and 318 K. The same material has the shortest solidification time of 426 mins, two times faster compared to the 928 mins observed with the cylindrical capsule under the same conditions. The Sp11 with the nano-alumina in a rectangular capsule also has a short melting time of 134 mins. The rectangular profile is found capable of achieving the highest temperature drop about 3.3 K during free cooling of inlet air using nano-enhanced sp24. A progress is realized in unmasking the potential of the thermal energy battery using hybrid geometry and nanomaterial enhancements.

Keywords

• Geometry enhancement
• Heat transfer
• Nano-alumina
• Nano-CuO
• Phase change material

References

1. [1] BP, BP Statistical Review of World Energy globally consistent data on world energy markets., 2022. https://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/business-sites/en/global/corporate/pdfs/energy-economics/statistical-review/bp-stats-review-2022-full-report.pdf.
2. [2] Turner, J, Lu, H, King, J, Marshall, G.J, Phillips T, Bannister, D, Colwell, S. Extreme temperatures in the Antarctic. Journal of Climate 2021; 34: 2653–2668. DOI: 10.1175/JCLI-D-20-0538.1.
3. [3] IEA, IEA 2020, Cooling Report, IEA, Paris, 2020. https://www.iea.org/reports/cooling.
4. [4] IEA, IEA 2019, News: space cooling, IEA. 2019; 1. https://www.iea.org/news/air-conditioning-use-emerges-as-one-of-the-key-drivers-of-global-electricity-demand-growth,13 April 2021.
5. [5] Selvnes, H, Allouche, Y, Manescu, R.I, Hafner, A. Review on cold thermal energy storage applied to refrigeration systems using phase change materials. Thermal Science and Engineering Progress 2021; 22: 100807. DOI: 10.1016/j.tsep.2020.100807.
6. [6] Gad, R, Mahmoud, H, Ookawara, S, Hassan,H. Energy, exergy, and economic assessment of thermal regulation of PV panel using hybrid heat pipe-phase change material cooling system. Journal of Cleaner Production 2022; 364: 132489. DOI: 10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2022.132489.
7. [7] Rathore, P.K.S, Shukla, S.K. Enhanced thermophysical properties of organic PCM through shape stabilization for thermal energy storage in buildings: A state of the art review. Energy and Buildings 2021; 236: 110799. DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.110799.
8. [8] Li, C, Zhang, P, Li, Q, Tong, L, Wang, L, Ding, Y. Latent Heat Storage Devices, in: Y. Ding (Ed.). Thermal Energy Storage: Materials, Devices, Systems and Application 2021; 265–328. DOI: 10.1039/9781788019842-00265.

9. [9] Riahi, S, Jovet, Y, Saman, W.Y, Belusko, M, Bruno, F. Sensible and latent heat energy storage systems for concentrated solar power plants, exergy efficiency comparison. Solar Energy 2021; 180: 104–115. DOI: 10.1016/J.SOLENER.2018.12.072.
10. [10] Rubitherm Technologies GmbH, Rubitherm Phase Change Material, Https://Www.Rubitherm.Eu/Index.Php/Produktkategorie/Anorganische-Pcm-Sp. 2021.
11. [11] Said, M.A, Hassan, H. Parametric study on the effect of using cold thermal storage energy of phase change material on the performance of air-conditioning unit. Applied Energy 2018; 230: 1380–1402. DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.09.048.
12. [12] Omara, A.A.M, Abuelnour, A.A.A. Improving the performance of air conditioning systems by using phase change materials: A review. International Journal of Energy Research 2019; 43: 5175–5198. DOI: 10.1002/er.4507.
13. [13] Gao, D.C, Sun, Y.J, Ma, Z, Ren, H. A review on integration and design of desiccant air-conditioning systems for overall performance improvements. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 2021; 141: 110809. DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2021.110809.
14. [14] Muzhanje, A.T, Hassan, M.A, Ookawara, S, Hassan, H. An overview of the preparation and characteristics of phase change materials with nanomaterials. Journal of Energy Storage 2022; 51: 104353. DOI: 10.1016/J.EST.2022.104353.
15. [15] Muzhanje, A.T, Hassan, M.A, Hassan, H. Phase change material based thermal energy storage applications for air conditioning: Review. Applied Thermal Engineering 2022; 214: 118832. DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2022.118832.
16. [16] Leong, K.Y, Abdul Rahman, M.R, Gurunathan, B.A. Nano-enhanced phase change materials: A review of thermo-physical properties, applications and challenges. Journal of Energy Storage 2019; 21: 18–31. DOI: 10.1016/j.est.2018.11.008.
17. [17] Zhang, G, Yu, Z, Cui, G, Dou, B, Lu, W, Yan, X. Fabrication of a novel nano phase change material emulsion with low supercooling and enhanced thermal conductivity. Renewable Energy 2020; 151: 542–550. DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2019.11.044.
18. [18] Lin, Y, Cong, R, Chen, Y, Fang, G. Thermal properties and characterization of palmitic acid/nano silicon dioxide/graphene nanoplatelet for thermal energy storage. International Journal of Energy Research 2020; 44: 5621–5633. DOI: 10.1002/er.5311.
19. [19] Du, X, Qiu, J, Deng, S, Du, Z, Cheng, X, Wang, H. Flame-retardant and solid-solid phase change composites based on dopamine-decorated BP nanosheets/Polyurethane for efficient solar-to-thermal energy storage. Renewable Energy 2021; 164: 1–10. DOI: 10.1016/J.RENENE.2020.09.067.
20. [20] Mazur, N, Huinink, H, Fischer, H, Donkers, P, Adan, O. Impact of CsF on phase transitions of K2CO3, In: ECRES 2022 10. European Conference on Renewable Energy Systems; 07-09 May 2022: Istanbul, Turkey, pp. 11.
21. [21] Yadav, A, Barman, B, Kumar, V, Kardam, A, Shankara, S.N, Verma, A, Madhwal, D, Shukla, P, Jain, V.K. A Review on Thermophysical Properties of Nanoparticle-Enhanced Phase Change Materials for Thermal Energy Storage. Recent Trends in Materials and Devices 2017: 178; 37–47. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-29096-6_5.
22. [22] Luo, Z, Zhang H, Gao X, Xu T, Fang Y, Zhang Z. Fabrication and characterization of form-stable capric-palmitic-stearic acid ternary eutectic mixture/nano-SiO2 composite phase change material. Energy and Buildings 2017; 147: 41–46. DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.04.005.
23. [23] Döğüşcü, D.K, Hekimoğlu, G., Sarı A. High internal phase emulsion templated-polystyrene/carbon nano fiber/hexadecanol composites phase change materials for thermal management applications. Journal of Energy Storage 2021; 39. DOI: 10.1016/j.est.2021.102674.
24. [24] Ručevskis, S, Akishin, P, Korjakins, A. Parametric analysis and design optimisation of PCM thermal energy storage system for space cooling of buildings. Energy and Buildings 2020; 224. DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2020.110288.
25. [25] Said, M.A, Hassan, H. Impact of energy storage of new hybrid system of phase change materials combined with air-conditioner on its heating and cooling performance. Journal of Energy Storage 2021; 36. DOI: 10.1016/j.est.2021.102400.
26. [26] Chaiyat, N. Energy and economic analysis of a building air-conditioner with a phase change material (PCM). Energy Conversion and Management 2015; 94: 150–158. DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2015.01.068.
27. [27] Hassan, H, Harmand, S. Effect of using nanofluids on the performance of rotating heat pipe. Applied Mathematical Modelling 2015; 39: 4445–4462. DOI: 10.1016/j.apm.2014.12.023.
28. [28] Sultan, M, Mostafa, H, El boz, A, Elngiry, E. Effect of Inlet and Geometrical Parameters on the Melting of PCM Capsules of Elliptical Cross Section. ERJ. Engineering Research Journal. 2021; 44: 11–20. DOI: 10.21608/erjm.2021.42713.1041.
29. [29] Alaraji, A, Alhussein, H, Asadi, Z, Ganji, D.D. Investigation of heat energy storage of RT26 organic materials in circular and elliptical heat exchangers in melting and solidification process. Case Studies in Thermal Engineering 2021; 28: 101432. DOI: 10.1016/j.csite.2021.101432.
30. [30] Sharma, A, Dewangan, S.K. Performance analysis of melting behavior of phase change material encapsulated within differently shaped macro-capsule. International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering 2022; 13: 377–394. DOI: 10.1007/s40095-021-00431-y.
31. [31] Chiam, H.W, Azmi, W.H, Adam, N.M, Ariffin, M.K.A.M. Numerical study of nanofluid heat transfer for different tube geometries – A comprehensive review on performance. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 2017; 86: 60–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ICHEATMASSTRANSFER.2017.05.019.
32. [32] Hassan, H, Harmand, S. 3D transient model of vapour chamber: Effect of nanofluids on its performance. Applied Thermal Engineering 2013; 51: 1191–1201. DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2012.10.047.
33. [33] Said, M.A, Hassan, H. A study on the thermal energy storage of different phase change materials incorporated with the condenser of air-conditioning unit and their effect on the unit performance. Energy and Buildings 2019; 202: 109353. DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2019.109353.
34. [34] Soliman A.M.A, Hassan H, Ahmed M, Ookawara S. A 3d model of the effect of using heat spreader on the performance of photovoltaic panel (PV). Mathematics and Computers in Simulation 2020; 167: 78–91. DOI: 10.1016/j.matcom.2018.05.011.
35. [35] Said, M.A, Hassan, H. Effect of using nanoparticles on the performance of thermal energy storage of phase change material coupled with air-conditioning unit. Energy Conversions and Management 2018; 171: 903–916. DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2018.06.051.
36. [36] Hassan, H. Heat transfer of Cu–water nanofluid in an enclosure with a heat sink and discrete heat source. European Journal of Mechanics - B/Fluids 2014; 45: 72–83. DOI: 10.1016/j.euromechflu.2013.12.003.
37. [37] Bechiri, M, Mansouri K. Analytical study of heat generation effects on melting and solidification of nano-enhanced PCM inside a horizontal cylindrical enclosure. Applied Thermal Engineering 2016; 104: 779–790. DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.05.105.
38. [38] Vajjha, R.S, Das, D.K, Kulkarni, D.P. Development of new correlations for convective heat transfer and friction factor in turbulent regime for nanofluids. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 2010; 53: 4607–4618. DOI: 10.1016/J.IJHEATMASSTRANSFER.2010.06.032.