Experimental investigations on the thermal energy storage performance of shell and tube unit with composite phase change materials. (February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Niu, Zhaoyang; Yu, Jiabang; Cui, Xin; Yang, Xiaohu; Sun, Yanjun; Yan, Jinyue
• Is Part Of: Energy procedia. Volume 158(2019)
• Page Start: 4889
• Page End: 4896
• Publication Date: 2019-02
• Subjects: Thermal energy storage -- melting phase change -- fined tube -- metal foam; Power resources -- Congresses; Power resources -- Periodicals; Power resources; Conference proceedings; Periodicals; 333.7905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.egypro.2019.01.704
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1876-6102

Abstract

Abstract: 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.