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Optimization and Comparative Study of Non-Pressurized Shell-and-Tube Latent Heat Storage for Air-Source Heat Pump
Weilin Li1, Yuguo Fu1, Hanrui Wang1
1School of Civil Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 27, 2026
Summary
This study introduces a finned tube latent heat storage system for buildings, significantly reducing heating energy waste. The novel design enhances thermal performance and integrates with heat pumps for improved efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Energy Storage
- Building Science
- Thermal Engineering
Background:
- Renewable energy sources have intermittent supply, creating a mismatch with building heating demands.
- Latent heat storage (LHS) systems using phase change materials (PCMs) can buffer this mismatch but face challenges with low thermal conductivity.
- Organic PCMs are suitable for building applications but require enhanced heat transfer for efficient operation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a novel non-pressurized shell-and-tube latent heat storage (NP-LHS) device integrated with an air-source heat pump (ASHP) system.
- To investigate and compare the thermal performance of different tube geometries (plain, corrugated, finned) for NP-LHS systems using organic PCMs.
- To assess the effectiveness of the optimized NP-LHS system in mitigating the spatiotemporal mismatch between renewable energy supply and building heating demand.
Main Methods:
- Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were employed to analyze heat transfer characteristics and optimize tube spacing.
- Full-scale experiments were conducted to validate simulation results and evaluate the dynamic performance of the NP-LHS system.
- The thermal performance of plain, corrugated, and finned tubes was systematically compared under various operating conditions.
Main Results:
- The finned tube configuration demonstrated superior thermal performance, achieving a 92.5% PCM volume fraction and reducing melting time to 180 minutes.
- Optimal tube spacing ratio was determined to be between 1.0 and 1.5 for enhanced heat transfer.
- Integration of the finned tube NP-LHS with an ASHP system achieved a peak-shaving power reduction rate of 98.0%, maintaining indoor thermal comfort.
Conclusions:
- Finned tubes significantly enhance the thermal conductivity of organic PCMs in non-pressurized latent heat storage applications.
- Expanding conductive surface area is more effective than inducing turbulence for improving the performance of low-conductivity PCMs.
- The developed finned tube NP-LHS system effectively addresses the challenges of renewable energy integration in buildings, improving energy efficiency and thermal comfort.
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