Modares Mechanical Engineering

Modares Mechanical Engineering

Numerical Study of a System Based on Phase Change Materials for Energy Storage in Buildings Considering the Geometric Characteristics of Integrated Fins

Document Type : Original Research

Authors
Ali Moshiri 1
Mohammad Javad Raji Asadabadi 2
mahdi moghimi 2
1 School of mechanical engineering, Iran university of science and technology
2 Iran university of science and technology
10.48311/mme.2025.11470
Abstract
Phase change materials (PCMs), due to their ability to store and release thermal energy, are widely used to enhance the energy efficiency of buildings and thermal systems. In this study, the effect of adding horizontal and angled fins to PCM-containing enclosures on the melting process and thermal performance was investigated numerically. The simulation results showed that the addition of fins, by increasing the contact surface and enhancing natural convection, accelerates the melting process and increases the average temperature of the enclosure. After 600 seconds, the average liquid fraction in the cases of no fin, horizontal fin, 30° positive-angle fin, and 30° negative-angle fin was 0.27, 0.42, 0.40, and 0.39, respectively. Similarly, the normalized average temperature of the PCM enclosure in these configurations reached 0.58, 0.94, 0.92, and 0.93, respectively. Among the different configurations, horizontal fins provided the most uniform heat distribution and were identified as the most suitable option for achieving complete and stable melting. Angled fins, depending on their orientation, can direct heat transfer toward specific zones: upward for 30° positive fins and downward for 30° negative fins. These findings highlight the importance of purposeful fin design tailored to practical needs and operational conditions for optimizing the performance of thermal energy storage systems
Keywords
Numerical investigation
Phase Change Materials
energy storage
heat transfer improvement
integrated fin

Subjects

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Modares Mechanical Engineering
Volume 25, Issue 3
March 2025
Pages 163-174