Numerical Modeling of the Effect of Nanoparticle Concentration on Solidification Rate of Phase Change Materials in Thermal Energy Storage Systems
Hassan Bazai, Mohammad Mahdi Zerafat, Mohammad Javad Zarei, Abed Behzadi
Abstract
AbstractConsidering the growing rate of energy consumption as well as significant enhancement in worldwide energy demand, it is necessary to improve the performance of energy storage, i.e., melting and solidification rates in thermal energy storage systems. Phase change materials (PCMs) with high latent heats of fusion and proper melting points can be used as alternatives in energy storage systems. The most serious shortcoming in the existing PCMs is low thermal conductivity which confines the rate of energy storage. This issue can be tackled using nanoparticles with much higher thermal conductivities conjugated with the existing PCMs. In this research, effect of nanoparticle addition into PCMs along with copper fins inside both un-finned and finned triplex-tube thermal energy storage systems on PCM solidification rate was investigated numerically. Furthermore, various parameters including nanoparticle type (Al2O3, Ag, CuO, and Cu), concentration (1 and 3%) and diameter (20 and 80 nm) were analyzed for augmentation of the solidification time. The obtained results revealed that the simultaneous presence of fins and 3% of nano-Al2O3 with a 20 nm average diameter can save solidification time up to 67.11%. Conflicts of interestThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.Additional informationNotes on contributorsHassan BazaiHassan Bazai is a PhD student at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. His favorite research topics are CFD, phase change materials and heat transfer processes.Mohammad Mahdi ZerafatMohammad Mahdi Zerafat is an associate professor at Nano-Chemical Engineering Department of Shiraz University, Iran. He has received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in in Chemical Engineering from Shiraz University, Iran in 2004 and 2007, respectively. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Tehran in 2012 in Nanotechnology. His research interests include the application of nanotechnology in energy storage, phase change materials, membrane separation processes, and super-hydrophobicity.Mohammad Javad ZareiMohammad Javad Zarei received his M.Sc. in Nano-Chemical Engineering at Shiraz University, Ira. He is now a graduate research assistant at North Carolina State University, USA. His research interests are heat transfer engineering, fluid flow and environmental issues.Abed BehzadiAbed Behzadi graduated from Sharif University of Technology with M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering. His studies are focused on nanotechnology, thermal engineering, and fluid mechanics.