Experimental research on thermal characteristics of PCM thermal energy storage units. Issue 1 (February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Tianshi; Liu, Yubin; Gao, Qing; Wang, Guohua; Yan, Zhenmin; Shen, Ming
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Energy Institute. Volume 93:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 76
• Page End: 86
• Publication Date: 2020-02
• Subjects: Thermal energy storage unit -- Phase change material -- Multiple melting points -- Thermal characteristics; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Fuel -- Periodicals; 621.04205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.joei.2019.04.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-9671

Abstract

Abstract: To explore thermal management integration in electric vehicles (EVs), a phase change materials (PCMs) thermal energy storage unit using flat tubes and corrugated fins is designed. The investigation focuses on the thermal characteristics of the PCM unit, such as the temperature variation, heat capacity, and heat transfer time, etc. Meanwhile, the heat storage and release process will be influenced by different inlet temperature, liquid flow rate, melting point of the PCM, and the combination order of the units. Under the same inlet temperature and flow rate condition, the PCM unit with higher melting point enters the latent heat storage stage slowly and enters the phase change melting release stage quickly. Furthermore, the heat storage and release rates increase with increasing liquid flow rates, but the effects are diminishing in the middle and later periods. The multiple PCM units with different melting temperatures are cascaded to help recycle low-grade heat energy with different temperature classes and exhibit well heat storage and release rates. Highlights: A thermal energy storage unit using flat tubes and corrugated fins is designed. Thermal characteristics of the energy storage unit are explored. Effects of combination order of the units are investigated. The designed PCM unit exhibits well heat storage and release performance.