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Enhancing thermal performance of phase change materials using conductive rods with length dependent melting dynamics
Abbas Fadhil Khalaf1, Farhan Lafta Rashid1, Mudhar A Al-Obaidi2
1Department of Petroleum Engineering, Engineering College, University of Kerbala, Karbala, 56001, Iraq.
Adding copper rods significantly speeds up melting in phase change materials (PCMs) for thermal energy storage. A 15 mm rod offers a practical balance, reducing melting time by 50% with optimal performance and material use.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Thermal Engineering
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Phase change materials (PCMs) exhibit low thermal conductivity, hindering their melting rates and limiting thermal energy storage efficiency.
- Accelerating PCM melting is crucial for enhancing the performance of thermal energy storage systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To numerically investigate the effectiveness of copper rods as conductive enhancers for accelerating PCM melting.
- To determine the optimal copper rod configuration for maximizing heat transfer and minimizing melting time in a hemispherical cell.
Main Methods:
- Numerical simulation using ANSYS/FLUENT 16.
- Implementation of an enthalpy-porosity model to simulate the melting process.
- Analysis of various copper rod lengths (10 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm) and their impact on melting performance.
Main Results:
- Copper rods significantly reduced PCM melting time; a 20 mm rod decreased it by 70%.
- A 15 mm rod achieved a 50% reduction in melting time, offering 85% of the maximum performance gain.
- Melting speed increased up to fourfold with rod integration, with diminishing returns observed beyond 15 mm.
Conclusions:
- Copper rods are effective conductive enhancers for accelerating PCM melting.
- A 15 mm copper rod represents an optimal configuration, balancing performance enhancement with material usage.
- Findings provide insights for designing efficient thermal storage systems utilizing PCMs in renewable energy and waste heat recovery.
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