Home Simultaneous charging and discharging of metal foam composite phase change material in triplex-tube latent heat storage system under various configurations
Article
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Simultaneous charging and discharging of metal foam composite phase change material in triplex-tube latent heat storage system under various configurations

  • Md Tabrez Alam and Anoop K. Gupta ORCID logo EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: May 4, 2023
Become an author with De Gruyter Brill
Submit Manuscript Author Information
Chemical Product and Process Modeling
From the journal Chemical Product and Process Modeling Volume 18 Issue 5

Abstract

Phase change material (PCM) has high latent heat on one hand albeit low thermal conductivity on the other hand which restricts its utilization in thermal energy storage applications. Therefore, to improve thermal performance of PCM, various techniques have been employed. This numerical work intends to estimate the effect of copper metal foam (MF) in the seven various configurations (M1–M7) of triple-tube heat exchanger (TTHX) under simultaneous charging and discharging (SCD) conditions using heat transfer fluids (HTF) both the sides. Five distinct configurations with equal volumes of PCM and composite PCM (CPCM) have been considered for optimization standpoint. RT55 (melting temperature = 327 K) is taken as PCM. Based on thermo-physical properties of PCM and thermal boundary conditions on the heated tube, the dimensionless controlling parameters such as the Rayleigh number (Ra), Prandtl number (Pr), and Stefan number (Ste) were taken as 1.79 × 105, 30, and 0.21, respectively. Typical results on melt fraction, latent heat storage, temperature contours, and steady-state melt fraction and corresponding melting time have been reported. Performance yielded by all the configurations was compared for a fixed duration of 2 h. The positioning of MF largely affects the heat transfer mechanism in the latent heat storage unit. Results show that the bottom-side positioning of MF can boost the heat storage due to enhanced buoyancy-induced convection. Among all the models, M3 predicts the highest steady-state melt fraction (λ ss  ≈ 0.62) in the shortest steady-state melting time (t ss  ≈ 66 min), followed by model M6 (λ ss  ≈ 0.58, t ss  ≈ 65 min). The optimized design (model M3) shows ∼75 % latent heat storage enhancement than pure PCM (M1) case. Interestingly, one may also achieve ∼17.2 % higher enhancement using model M3 than M2 but with only half of the mass of MF than that used in full porous configuration (M2).

Keywords: metal foam; phase change material; simultaneous charging and discharging; triplex-tube
Corresponding author: Anoop K. Gupta, Energy and Thermofluids Lab, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Patna, Patna 801106, India, E-mail:

Acknowledgment

We sincerely acknowledge the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of INDIA, for the DST INSPIRE Faculty Research Grant (IFA18-ENG248) awarded to the corresponding author (Anoop K. Gupta) for the year 2018–2023 to carry out this work. We are also thankful to the technical team of the conference CHEMSMART-22 organized by NIT Rourkela, INDIA, for recommending this work.

  1. Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.

  2. Research funding: None declared.

  3. Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no known competing financial interests or personal relationships in influencing the research work reported in this paper.

References

1. Ibrahim, NI, Al-Sulaiman, FA, Rahman, S, Yilbas, BS, Sahin, AZ. Heat transfer enhancement of phase change materials for thermal energy storage applications: a critical review. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2017;74:26–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.01.169.Search in Google Scholar

2. Hameed, G, Ghafoor, MA, Yousaf, M, Imran, M, Zaman, M, Elkamel, A, et al.. Low temperature phase change materials for thermal energy storage: current status and computational perspectives. Sustain Energy Technol Assessments 2022;50:101808. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2021.101808.Search in Google Scholar

3. Bhamare, DK, Rathod, MK, Banerjee, J. Numerical model for evaluating thermal performance of residential building roof integrated with inclined phase change material (PCM) layer. J Build Eng 2020;28:101018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2019.101018.Search in Google Scholar

4. Hatamleh, RI, Abu-Hamdeh, NH, Bantan, RA. Integration of a solar air heater to a building equipped with PCM to reduce the energy demand. J Build Eng 2022;48:103948. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2021.103948.Search in Google Scholar

5. Singh, LK, Gupta, AK, Sharma, AK. Hybrid thermal management system for a lithium-ion battery module: effect of cell arrangement, discharge rate, phase change material thickness and air velocity. J Energy Storage 2022;52:104907. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2022.104907.Search in Google Scholar

6. Singh, LK, Gupta, AK. Hybrid cooling-based lithium-ion battery thermal management for electric vehicles. Environ Dev Sustain 2023;25:3627–48. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-022-02197-7.Search in Google Scholar

7. Alva, G, Liu, L, Huang, X, Fang, G. Thermal energy storage materials and systems for solar energy applications. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2017;68:693–706. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.10.021.Search in Google Scholar

8. Ali, HM, Janjua, MM, Sajjad, U, Yan, WM. A critical review on heat transfer augmentation of phase change materials embedded with porous materials/foams. Int J Heat Mass Tran 2019;135:649–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2019.02.001.Search in Google Scholar

9. Meng, X, Liu, S, Zou, J, Liu, F, Wang, J. Inclination angles on the thermal behavior of Phase-Change Material (PCM) in a cavity filled with copper foam partly. Case Stud Therm Eng 2021;25:100944. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2021.100944.Search in Google Scholar

10. Sciacovelli, A, Colella, F, Verda, V. Melting of PCM in a thermal energy storage unit: numerical investigation and effect of nanoparticle enhancement. Int J Energy Res 2013;37:1610–23. https://doi.org/10.1002/er.2974.Search in Google Scholar

11. Bashar, M, Siddiqui, K. Experimental investigation of transient melting and heat transfer behavior of nanoparticle-enriched PCM in a rectangular enclosure. J Energy Storage 2018;18:485–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2018.06.006.Search in Google Scholar

12. Zhang, C, Yu, M, Fan, Y, Zhang, X, Zhao, Y, Qiu, L. Numerical study on heat transfer enhancement of PCM using three combined methods based on heat pipe. Energy 2020;195:116809. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.116809.Search in Google Scholar

13. Zhao, C, Wang, J, Sun, Y, He, S, Hooman, K. Fin design optimization to enhance PCM melting rate inside a rectangular enclosure. Appl Energy 2022;321:119368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.119368.Search in Google Scholar

14. Al-Abidi, AA, Mat, S, Sopian, K, Sulaiman, MY, Mohammad, AT. Experimental study of melting and solidification of PCM in a triplex tube heat exchanger with fins. Energy Build 2014;68:33–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.09.007.Search in Google Scholar

15. Aldoss, TK, Rahman, MM. Comparison between the single-PCM and multi-PCM thermal energy storage design. Energy Convers Manag 2014;83:79–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2014.03.047.Search in Google Scholar

16. Chamkha, AJ, Doostanidezfuli, A, Izadpanahi, E, Ghalambaz, MJ. Phase-change heat transfer of single/hybrid nanoparticles-enhanced phase-change materials over a heated horizontal cylinder confined in a square cavity. Adv Powder Technol 2017;28:385–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apt.2016.10.009.Search in Google Scholar

17. Khedher, NB, Mahdi, JM, Majdi, HS, Khosravi, K, Al-Azzawi, WK, Al-Qrimli, FA, et al.. CFD analysis of phase-change material-based heat storage with dimple-shaped fins: evaluation of fin configuration and distribution pattern. J Comput Design Eng 2022;9:2055–72. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcde/qwac105.Search in Google Scholar

18. Ghalambaz, M, Zhang, J. Conjugate solid-liquid phase change heat transfer in heatsink filled with phase change material-metal foam. Int J Heat Mass Tran 2020;146:118832. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2019.118832.Search in Google Scholar

19. Öztop, HF, Coşanay, H, Selimefendigil, F, Abu-Hamdeh, N. Analysis of melting of phase change material block inserted to an open cavity. Int Commun Heat Mass Tran 2022;137:106240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2022.106240.Search in Google Scholar

20. Ugurlubilek, N, Sert, Z, Selimefendigil, F, Öztop, HF. 3D laminar natural convection in a cubical enclosure with gradually changing partitions. Int Commun Heat Mass Tran 2022;133:105932. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2022.105932.Search in Google Scholar

21. Selimefendigil, F, Öztop, HF. Thermal management and performance improvement by using coupled effects of magnetic field and phase change material for hybrid nanoliquid convection through a 3D vented cylindrical cavity. Int J Heat Mass Tran 2022;183:122233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2021.122233.Search in Google Scholar

22. Abandani, MH, Ganji, DD. Melting effect in triplex-tube thermal energy storage system using multiple PCMs-porous metal foam combination. J Energy Storage 2021;43:103154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2021.103154.Search in Google Scholar

23. Mahdi, JM, Nsofor, EC. Melting enhancement in triplex-tube latent heat energy storage system using nanoparticles-metal foam combination. Appl Energy 2017;191:22–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.11.036.Search in Google Scholar

24. Xu, Y, Li, MJ, Zheng, ZJ, Xue, XD. Melting performance enhancement of phase change material by a limited amount of metal foam: configurational optimization and economic assessment. Appl Energy 2018;212:868–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.12.082.Search in Google Scholar

25. Zhao, C, Opolot, M, Liu, M, Bruno, F, Mancin, S, Hooman, K. Phase change behaviour study of PCM tanks partially filled with graphite foam. Appl Therm Eng 2021;196:117313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2021.117313.Search in Google Scholar

26. Joybari, MM, Haghighat, F, Seddegh, S. Numerical investigation of a triplex tube heat exchanger with phase change material: simultaneous charging and discharging. Energy Build 2017;139:426–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.01.034.Search in Google Scholar

27. Khobragade, S, Devanuri, JK. Phase change material thermal response under simultaneous charging and discharging process in an annular finned storage system with orientations: an experimental study. Int J Thermofluids 2023;17:100256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijft.2022.100256.Search in Google Scholar

28. Mahdi, JM, Lohrasbi, S, Ganji, DD, Nsofor, EC. Simultaneous energy storage and recovery in the triplex-tube heat exchanger with PCM, copper fins and Al2O3 nanoparticles. Energy Convers Manag 2019;180:949–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2018.11.038.Search in Google Scholar

29. Mozafari, M, Lee, A, Cheng, S. Simultaneous energy storage and recovery in triplex-tube heat exchanger using multiple phase change materials with nanoparticles. J Energy Storage 2022;49:104164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2022.104164.Search in Google Scholar

30. Mahdi, JM, Mohammed, HI, Talebizadehsardari, P, Ghalambaz, M, Majdi, HS, Yaïci, W, et al.. Simultaneous and consecutive charging and discharging of a PCM-based domestic air heater with metal foam. Appl Therm Eng 2021;197:117408. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2021.117408.Search in Google Scholar

31. Xu, Y, Ren, Q, Zheng, ZJ, He, YL. Evaluation and optimization of melting performance for a latent heat thermal energy storage unit partially filled with porous media. Appl Energy 2017;193:84–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.02.019.Search in Google Scholar

32. Joshi, V, Rathod, MK. Thermal transport augmentation in latent heat thermal energy storage system by partially filled metal foam: a novel configuration. J Energy Storage 2019;22:270–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2019.02.019.Search in Google Scholar

33. Churchill, SW, Chu, HH. Correlating equations for laminar and turbulent free convection from a horizontal cylinder. Int J Heat Mass Tran 1975;18:1049–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/0017-9310(75)90222-7.Search in Google Scholar

34. Buonomo, B, Celik, H, Ercole, D, Manca, O, Mobedi, M. Numerical study on latent thermal energy storage systems with aluminum foam in local thermal equilibrium. Appl Therm Eng 2019;159:113980. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2019.113980.Search in Google Scholar

35. Memon, A, Mishra, G, Gupta, AK. Buoyancy-driven melting and heat transfer around a horizontal cylinder in square enclosure filled with phase change material. Appl Therm Eng 2020;181:115990. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2020.115990.Search in Google Scholar
Received: 2023-01-05
Accepted: 2023-04-20
Published Online: 2023-05-04

© 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Review
  3. A review of frictional pressure drop characteristics of single phase microchannels having different shapes of cross sections
  4. Research Articles
  5. Taguchi L16 (44) orthogonal array-based study and thermodynamics analysis for electro-Fenton process treatment of textile industrial dye
  6. Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles from Aspergillus flavus and their antibacterial performance
  7. Prediction of effect of wind speed on air pollution level using machine learning technique
  8. Model-based evaluation of heat of combustion using the degree of reduction
  9. Enhanced design of PI controller with lead-lag filter for unstable and integrating plus time delay processes
  10. Effect of operating parameters on the sludge settling characteristics by treatment of the textile dyeing effluent using electrocoagulation
  11. Simultaneous charging and discharging of metal foam composite phase change material in triplex-tube latent heat storage system under various configurations
  12. Optimal design of pressure swing adsorption units for hydrogen recovery under uncertainty
  13. Thermo-kinetics, thermodynamics, and ANN modeling of the pyrolytic behaviours of Corn Cob, Husk, Leaf, and Stalk using thermogravimetric analysis
https://doi.org/10.1515/cppm-2023-0003
Keywords for this article
metal foam; phase change material; simultaneous charging and discharging; triplex-tube

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Review
  3. A review of frictional pressure drop characteristics of single phase microchannels having different shapes of cross sections
  4. Research Articles
  5. Taguchi L16 (44) orthogonal array-based study and thermodynamics analysis for electro-Fenton process treatment of textile industrial dye
  6. Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles from Aspergillus flavus and their antibacterial performance
  7. Prediction of effect of wind speed on air pollution level using machine learning technique
  8. Model-based evaluation of heat of combustion using the degree of reduction
  9. Enhanced design of PI controller with lead-lag filter for unstable and integrating plus time delay processes
  10. Effect of operating parameters on the sludge settling characteristics by treatment of the textile dyeing effluent using electrocoagulation
  11. Simultaneous charging and discharging of metal foam composite phase change material in triplex-tube latent heat storage system under various configurations
  12. Optimal design of pressure swing adsorption units for hydrogen recovery under uncertainty
  13. Thermo-kinetics, thermodynamics, and ANN modeling of the pyrolytic behaviours of Corn Cob, Husk, Leaf, and Stalk using thermogravimetric analysis
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2025 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 30.11.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/cppm-2023-0003/html
Scroll to top button