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Shell-and-tube type latent heat thermal energy storage: numerical analysis and comparison with experiments

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Abstract

The melting process of industrial grade paraffin wax inside a shell-and-tube storage is analyzed by means of numerical simulation and experimental results. For this purpose, the enthalpy porosity method is extended by a continuous liquid fraction function. The extended method is tested using results gained from a gallium melt test inside a rectangular enclosure.

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Abbreviations

LHTES:

Latent heat thermal energy storage

PCM:

Phase change material

HTF:

Heat transfer fluid

CFD:

Computational fluid dynamics

A :

Porosity function in Darcy type source term, kg/m³ s

b :

Small numerical constant in porosity function

C :

Large constant in Darcy type source term, kg/m³ s

c :

Heat capacity, J/kg K

Co :

Courant number

d :

Diameter, m

g :

Gravitational force, m²/s

h :

Specific enthalpy, J/kg

L :

Latent heat of fusion, J/kg

l :

Length, m

p :

Pressure, Pa

S h :

Source term in enthalpy equation, J/m³ s

S m :

Darcy type source term in x and y momentum equation, kg/m² s²

S b :

Buoyancy source term in y momentum equation, kg/m² s²

T :

Temperature, K or °C

t :

Time, s

u :

Velocity in x coordinate, m/s

v :

Velocity in y coordinate, m/s

x :

Horizontal coordinate

y :

Vertical coordinate

X :

Width of simulation domain

Y :

Height of simulation domain

β :

Volumetric thermal expansion coefficient

γ :

Liquid fraction

η :

Dynamic viscosity, kg/m s

λ :

Thermal conductivity, W/m K

ρ :

Density, kg/m³

erf :

Error function

hot :

Hot wall

ini :

Initial

l :

Liquid

m :

Melting

ref :

Reference

s :

Sensible, solid

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lehrstuhl für Technische Thermodynamik und Transportprozesse (LTTT), Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany

    Fabian Rösler & Dieter Brüggemann

Authors
  1. Fabian Rösler
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  2. Dieter Brüggemann
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fabian Rösler.

Additional information

Dedicated to Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr.-Ing. E.h. mult. Franz Mayinger on the occasion of his 80th birthday.

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Rösler, F., Brüggemann, D. Shell-and-tube type latent heat thermal energy storage: numerical analysis and comparison with experiments. Heat Mass Transfer 47, 1027–1033 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-011-0866-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-011-0866-9

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