Numerical Study of a Two Pass Shell and Tube Latent Heat Energy Storage System.

The thermal behaviour of PCM in different configuration of heat exchangers is analysed for the purpose of design and optimisation of a latent heat thermal energy storage unit. Numerical modelling in conjunction with scale analyses provides a cost effective means to examine the performance of different configurations of latent heat storage systems. The main objective of this work is to scale down an experimental set up to a numerical model which can represent the thermal behaviour of the system with reasonable computational time. A U-tube element from a shell and tube thermal storage experimental set up was used as the model for a numerical study, using FLUENT. The predicted results of the temperature profiles in the PCM domain are in agreement with the measured data. Moreover, the heat transfer fluid outlet temperature and duration of the phase change processes are consistent with experimental results. Using the experimental initial temperature at each point in comparison to using an average initial temperature from all points can improve the predicted temperature profiles. Furthermore, three different mushy zone constants; namely 105, 107, 108 were used to examine the impact on the rate of melting. It was found that the constant 107 provides a closer solution to the experimental results. Results of this study show that the small scale model can represent the lab scale set up, providing more detail about the thermal behaviour of the PCM which is difficult to capture by measurement. The model can also be used for further examination of a high temperature PCM within the same set up for a CSP application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]