Enhancing Melting of Phase Change Material in Double Tube Latent Heat Storage System by Pin Fins

Abstract

Enhancing the melting of phase change material (PCM) in a double tube latent heat storage system (LHSS) improves energy storage efficiency, accelerates heat absorption, and increases overall system performance. In this study, the melting behavior and heat transfer of PCMs using various pin fin length ratio are studied. The fin length ratios of 1, 2, 3, and 4 are investigated and compared with unfinned scheme. The model is validated by comparing the results with prior experimental results, and it is dependable and acceptable. The parameters, including liquid fraction (LF), temperature, heat transfer rate, and melting time (MT), are evaluated. Outcomes explain that incorporating fins with length ratio of 4 results in a substantial increase in overall liquid fraction and average temperature by 67% and 29%, respectively. Additionally, complete melting time decreased via 56% with a fin length ratio of 3 compared to an unfinned system. The total melting time decreased with fin insertion and was reduced by 61.5% when using a fin with length ratio of 4. Although the heat transfer rate declines, the highest values are observed at the beginning of the melting process. The study forecasts the liquid fraction and temperature distribution throughout the heat exchanger based on a detailed numerical analysis. The findings provide valuable insights into fin size and distribution, serving as a reference for future research and optimization of PCM energy storage systems.