Mathematical Model to Describe Thermal Behavior of Phase Change Materials Contained in a Cylindrical Enclosure

Heat transfer processes undergoing liquid-solid phase transformation have been of continuing interest for many researchers. Phase Change Materials, (PCMs); have received great consideration in electronic industry for cooling of electronics and in telecommunication equipment to control internal temperature under emergency operating conditions. High melting temperature materials have been proposed as thermal energy storage mediums in space applications because of their high melting temperatures and latent heat. In the present work, a numerical simulation is developed to predict the thermal performance of a phase change material of high melting point in a cylindrical enclosure. In this simulation the phases are assumed to be homogeneous and a source term, S, arises from melting and solidification processes is considered as a function of the latent heat of fusion and the liquid phase fraction. By introducing the thermo-physical properties of one of those materials, the thermal performance of it as a phase change material is predicted.