article · Advances in Mechanical Engineering
This research investigated the melting process of a nano enhanced phase change material (nePCM) within an insulated heat exchanger. The nePCM, composed of paraffin wax and alumina nanoparticles, stores latent thermal energy. The study used a Finite Element Method programme to assess how fin placement and nanoparticle volume fraction (2% to 6%) affect melting, temperature distribution, and energy storage across four different heat exchanger structures. Key findings indicate that fin location, particularly in the central region, is crucial for optimal thermal performance. A continuously connected heating system (configuration c) demonstrated high efficiency for rapid melting and optimised thermal storage. Configuration d, featuring inclined discontinuous fins, also performed well, especially with a 4% nanoparticle concentration, identified as optimal.
This research is important for developing more efficient thermal energy storage systems. By optimising the design of heat exchangers and the composition of phase change materials, it can lead to improved energy storage capabilities. This has implications for renewable energy applications, such as solar thermal systems, by enhancing their performance and reliability.
This early-stage research focuses on optimising thermal storage in heat exchangers using nano enhanced phase change materials. The findings could enable the development of more efficient and compact thermal energy storage units for various applications. Potential users include manufacturers of energy storage devices and developers of renewable energy technologies, particularly in solar thermal systems or waste heat recovery. The work provides foundational insights for future product development.
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This research paper examines the melting process of a nano enhanced phase change material (nePCM) based on paraffin wax and alumina nanoparticles in an insulated heat exchanger consisting of heated double inner tubes, surrounded by the nePCM that stores the acquired latent thermal energy and melts. The article investigates factors that directly influence the efficiency of this system, for instance, fins emplacement, along with the volume fraction 2% ≤ φ ≤ 6% of the nanoparticles and their impact on the melting process, temperature distribution, as well as the energy stored. Through a program based on the Finite Element Method, four different structures are considered to assess their thermal performance. The results demonstrate the importance of fin location, especially in the central region of the heat exchanger. As heat distribution predominantly shifts toward the system’s surface and around the heating tubes, strategically arranging fins between these tubes becomes critical for optimal performance. Notably, the utilization of a continuously connected heating system (configuration c) has shown to be highly efficient in improving heat transfer, yielding rapid melting and optimized thermal storage, followed by the performance of configuration (d) with inclined discontinuous inclined fins, particularly at φ = 4%, considering it the optimal concentration of the nanoparticles.
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DOI: 10.1177/16878132251342091
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