Enhanced Heat Transfer for NePCM-Melting-Based Thermal Energy of Finned Heat Pipe

Sameh E Ahmed; Aissa Abderrahmane; Sorour Alotaibi; Obai Younis; Radwan A Almasri; Wisam K Hussam

doi:10.3390/nano12010129

Enhanced Heat Transfer for NePCM-Melting-Based Thermal Energy of Finned Heat Pipe

Nanomaterials (Basel). 2021 Dec 31;12(1):129. doi: 10.3390/nano12010129.

Authors

Sameh E Ahmed^{1

2}, Aissa Abderrahmane³, Sorour Alotaibi⁴, Obai Younis^{5

6}, Radwan A Almasri⁷, Wisam K Hussam⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt.
³ Laboratoire de Physique Quantique de la Matière et Modélisation Mathématique (LPQ3M), University of Mascara, Mascara 29000, Algeria.
⁴ Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering and Petroleum, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 5969, Safat 13060, Kuwait.
⁵ Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering at Wadi Addwaser, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Wadi Addwaser 11991, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Khartoum, Khartoum 11111, Sudan.
⁷ Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia.
⁸ School of Engineering, Australian College of Kuwait, Safat 12000, Kuwait.

Abstract

Using phase change materials (PCMs) in energy storage systems provides various advantages such as energy storage at a nearly constant temperature and higher energy density. In this study, we aimed to conduct a numerical simulation for augmenting a PCM's melting performance within multiple tubes, including branched fins. The suspension contained Al₂O₃/n-octadecane paraffin, and four cases were considered based on a number of heated fins. A numerical algorithm based on the finite element method (FEM) was applied to solve the dimensionless governing system. The average liquid fraction was computed over the considered flow area. The key parameters are the time parameter (100 ≤t≤600 s) and the nanoparticles' volume fraction (0%≤φ≤8%). The major outcomes revealed that the flow structures, the irreversibility of the system, and the melting process can be controlled by increasing/decreasing number of the heated fins. Additionally, case four, in which eight heated fins were considered, produced the largest average liquid fraction values.

Keywords: FEM; PCM; branched fins; latent heat; melting process; shell designs; tubes.