The present study explores numerically the processes of melting and solidification of a phase change material (PCM). The material used was a commercially available paraffin wax, which is non-toxic, recyclable, chemically inert, non-corrosive and can withstand an unlimited number of cycles. The phase-change material was stored in a rectangular box, open at the top. The bottom of the box could be heated or cooled. The inner space of the box was partitioned by vertical conducting plates attached to the bottom. Thus, heat was transferred to and from the PCM both through its melted/solidified layer and by conduction through the vertical plates. Transient two-dimensional numerical simulations were performed using the Fluent 6.0 software. The melting temperature of the wax, 23–25°C was incorporated in the simulations along with its other properties, including the latent and sensible specific heat, thermal conductivity and density in solid and liquid states. The simulations provided detailed temperature and phase fields inside the system as functions of time, showing evolution of the heat transfer in the system as the phase change material melts/solidifies. The dependence of the heat transfer rate on the properties of the system and on the PCM phase composition at various time instants is presented and discussed.
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ASME 2003 Heat Transfer Summer Conference
July 21–23, 2003
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Heat Transfer Division
ISBN:
0-7918-3694-0
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Simulation of PCM Melting and Solidification in a Partitioned Storage Unit
V. Shatikian,
V. Shatikian
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
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V. Dubovsky,
V. Dubovsky
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
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G. Ziskind,
G. Ziskind
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
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R. Letan
R. Letan
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
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V. Shatikian
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
V. Dubovsky
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
G. Ziskind
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
R. Letan
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
Paper No:
HT2003-47167, pp. 347-353; 7 pages
Published Online:
December 17, 2008
Citation
Shatikian, V, Dubovsky, V, Ziskind, G, & Letan, R. "Simulation of PCM Melting and Solidification in a Partitioned Storage Unit." Proceedings of the ASME 2003 Heat Transfer Summer Conference. Heat Transfer: Volume 2. Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. July 21–23, 2003. pp. 347-353. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/HT2003-47167
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