Thermal Analysis and Performance Optimization of NEPCM-Based Shell-and-Tube Unit for Energy Storage Applications Through Porous Fin Configurations

Abstract

Abstract. Employing porous fins in a latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) unit is one of the effective strategies to improve heat transfer efficiency. The present study uses a shell-and-tube model embedded with porous fins and nano-enhanced phase change material (NEPCM) to study heat transfer and other performance parameters. Operational time and energy storage density are the main parameters of interest. Results demonstrate that a change in fin design significantly affects the melting time required to complete solid–liquid phase change. A 4.5% increase in operating time (tope) is observed with a change in upper fin height. Therefore, the response surface method was used to understand the influence of porous fin geometrical features on the performance parameters. With a reduction of the fin angle, the melting time is reduced by 6.09%. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) results revealed that the tope is significantly influenced by the different fin parameters. Energy storage density (Es) of the porous fin is more sensitive to the height of the main fin (Hm) compared to other fin parameters. It was found that the height ratio of the upper and bottom fins (Hu/Hb) factor is crucial in improving melting dynamics. The trade-off solutions obtained with minimum Euclidean distance from ideal point (MDIP) and technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) techniques show an error percentage of 3.04%, 0.113% concerning the tope. For Es, the error percentage is 0.63% and 1.34% for the MDIP and TOPSIS, respectively. The present work provides new strategies and insights for designing annular Y-shaped porous fins to optimize LHTES performance.