Modares Mechanical Engineering

Modares Mechanical Engineering

Effect of Geometry Features and Nanoparticles on the Melting Behavior of Phase Change Materials in a Finned Energy Storage Chamber

Authors
Yousef Dorbidi 1
AmirHossein Jazari Mamoei 1
somayeh davoodabadi farahani 2
1 Mechanical Engineering Deparment, Iran University of Science and Technology
2 Mechanical Engineering Deparment, Arak University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
10.48311/mme.2025.24043
Abstract
phase change material (PCM)-based thermal energy storage systems. The examined factors include fin spacing, incorporation of aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) nanoparticles into the PCM, fin material (aluminum, copper, titanium), and enclosure geometry (rectangular, square, triangular, and parallelogram). Reducing fin spacing improved heat transfer during early melting stages; however, excessively small spacing (e.g., 5 mm) restricted natural convection, reducing the melting rate in later stages. Optimal performance was achieved with aluminum fins at 7.5–10 mm spacing, balancing conduction and convection. Adding Al₂O₃ nanoparticles increased the PCM’s effective thermal conductivity and reduced total melting time by up to 5%. Fin material analysis showed that aluminum and copper, due to higher thermal conductivities, outperformed titanium. Aluminum fins offered the best compromise between performance, weight, and cost. Enclosure geometry also played a significant role: the rectangular design yielded the shortest melting time, reducing it by 60% compared to the square, 44% compared to the triangular, and 34% compared to the parallelogram enclosures. This improvement is attributed to better fin distribution and more efficient natural convection flow within the rectangular chamber. Overall, the results provide practical guidelines for optimizing PCM-based thermal storage systems, especially for engineering applications requiring efficient heat management.
Keywords
Phase change material
Fin
Nanofluid
Melting process
geometry

Subjects

منابع
[1] J. Yan, “Energy transition: Time matters,” Adv. Appl. Energy, vol. 5, p. 100082, 2022.
[2] W. Ajeeb, M. S. Oliveira, N. Martins, and S. S. Murshed, “Forced convection heat transfer of non-Newtonian MWCNTs nanofluids in microchannels under laminar flow,” Int. Commun. Heat Mass Transf., vol. 127, p. 105495, 2021.
[3] K. Moy, S. B. Lee, S. Harris, and S. Onori, “Design and validation of synthetic duty cycles for grid energy storage dispatch using lithium-ion batteries,” Adv. Appl. Energy, vol. 4, p. 100065, 2021.
[4] J. Sun, M. Wu, H. Jiang, X. Fan, and T. Zhao, “Advances in the design and fabrication of high-performance flow battery electrodes for renewable energy storage,” Adv. Appl. Energy, vol. 2, p. 100016, 2021.
[5] A. M. Ferrario et al., “A model-based parametric and optimal sizing of a battery/hydrogen storage of a real hybrid microgrid supplying a residential load: Towards island operation,” Adv. Appl. Energy, vol. 3, p. 100048, 2021.
[6] A. Vecchi, Y. Li, Y. Ding, P. Mancarella, and A. Sciacovelli, “Liquid air energy storage (LAES): A review on technology state-of-the-art, integration pathways and future perspectives,” Adv. Appl. Energy, vol. 3, p. 100047, 2021.
[7] Z. Yin, J. Zheng, H. Kim, Y. Seo, and P. Linga, “Hydrates for cold energy storage and transport: A review,” Adv. Appl. Energy, vol. 2, p. 100022, 2021.
[8] M. Liu, W. Saman, and F. Bruno, “Review on storage materials and thermal performance enhancement techniques for high temperature phase change thermal storage systems,” Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev., vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 2118–2132, 2012.
[9] C. Zhao, M. Opolot, M. Liu, F. Bruno, S. Mancin, and K. Hooman, “Phase change behaviour study of PCM tanks partially filled with graphite foam,” Appl. Therm. Eng., vol. 196, p. 117313, 2021.
[10] H. A. Al-Salami, N. S. Dhaidan, H. H. Abbas, F. N. Al-Mousawi, and R. Z. Homod, “Review of PCM charging in latent heat thermal energy storage systems with fins,” Therm. Sci. Eng. Prog., vol. 51, p. 102640, Jun. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.tsep.2024.102640.
[11] Y. B. Tao and Y.-L. He, “A review of phase change material and performance enhancement method for latent heat storage system,” Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev., vol. 93, pp. 245–259, 2018.
[12] C. Zhao et al., “Simulations of melting performance enhancement for a PCM embedded in metal periodic structures,” Int. J. Heat Mass Transf., vol. 168, p. 120853, 2021.
[13] A. Farzanehnia, M. Khatibi, M. Sardarabadi, and M. Passandideh-Fard, “Experimental investigation of multiwall carbon nanotube/paraffin based heat sink for electronic device thermal management,” Energy Convers. Manag., vol. 179, pp. 314–325, 2019.
[14] M. Sheikholeslami, R. Haq, A. Shafee, and Z. Li, “Heat transfer behavior of nanoparticle enhanced PCM solidification through an enclosure with V shaped fins,” Int. J. Heat Mass Transf., vol. 130, pp. 1322–1342, 2019.
[15] C. Zhao, M. Opolot, M. Liu, F. Bruno, S. Mancin, and K. Hooman, “Numerical study of melting performance enhancement for PCM in an annular enclosure with internal-external fins and metal foams,” Int. J. Heat Mass Transf., vol. 150, p. 119348, 2020.
[16] J. Vogel and M. Johnson, “Natural convection during melting in vertical finned tube latent thermal energy storage systems,” Appl. Energy, vol. 246, pp. 38–52, 2019.
[17] C. Zhao et al., “Review of analytical studies of melting rate enhancement with fin and/or foam inserts,” Appl. Therm. Eng., vol. 207, p. 118154, 2022.
[18] P. P. Levin, A. Shitzer, and G. Hetsroni, “Numerical optimization of a PCM-based heat sink with internal fins,” Int. J. Heat Mass Transf., vol. 61, pp. 638–645, 2013.
[19] X. Y. Zhang, Y. T. Ge, Burra, and P. Y. Lang, “Experimental investigation and CFD modelling analysis of finned-tube PCM heat exchanger for space heating,” Appl. Therm. Eng., vol. 244, p. 122731, May 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2024.122731.
[20] S. D. Farahani, A. D. Farahani, and A. H. Mosavi, “Numerical simulation of NEPCM series two-layer solidification process in a triple tube with porous fin,” Case Stud. Therm. Eng., vol. 28, p. 101407, 2021.
[21] B. Kamkari, H. Shokouhmand, and F. Bruno, “Experimental investigation of the effect of inclination angle on convection-driven melting of phase change material in a rectangular enclosure,” Int. J. Heat Mass Transf., vol. 72, pp. 186–200, 2014.
[22] C. Zhao, J. Wang, Y. Sun, S. He, and K. Hooman, “Fin design optimization to enhance PCM melting rate inside a rectangular enclosure,” Appl. Energy, vol. 321, p. 119368, 2022.
Modares Mechanical Engineering
Volume 25, Issue 7
July 2025
Pages 439-451