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Analysis of a thermal storage unit containing multiple phase change materials dispersed with high conductivity particles

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Abstract

This paper investigates numerically the combined effect of employing multiple Phase change materials (PCMs) and dispersion of high conductivity particles on the thermal performance of an energy storage unit. The key parameters that govern the performance have been identified following a simple reduction of variables. Among the different parameters, melting temperature of the PCMs, latent heat and melting temperature difference between two consecutive PCMs (ΔTm) are found to have a significant influence on the performance. A case study considering a 3-PCM unit to study the effect of key parameters during melting has been presented. The results show that for the 3-PCM unit, the performance is better when the second and third PCMs placed have their latent heats larger than the first PCM. It has been recommended to have ΔTm1 > ΔTm2 for the 3-PCM unit in order achieve more melting.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, SSN College of Engineering, OMR, Kalavakkam, 603110, TN, India

    N. Lakshmi Narasimhan & G. Srinivasan

Authors
  1. N. Lakshmi Narasimhan
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  2. G. Srinivasan
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Correspondence to N. Lakshmi Narasimhan.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Chang Yong Park

N. Lakshmi Narasimhan is currently Associate Professor in the Dept. of Mech. Engg. at SSN College of Engineering, Tamil Nadu, India. He has about 17 years of teaching experience. His research interests are cryogenics, heat transfer, CFD and energy storage and refrigeration.

G. Srinivasan completed his undergraduate in Mechanical Engineering from SSN College of Engineering, Tamil Nadu, India. Currently he is pursuing masters in The University of Delft, Netherlands. His research interests are sustainable energy and heat transfer.

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Lakshmi Narasimhan, N., Srinivasan, G. Analysis of a thermal storage unit containing multiple phase change materials dispersed with high conductivity particles. J Mech Sci Technol 32, 373–380 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-017-1237-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-017-1237-3

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