This paper presents a solidification process model of phase change materials in a flat rectangular capsule for cold thermal energy storage system. The temperature in solid region is assumed to be quasi-stable distribution, and heat transfer in the flat rectangular capsule filled with phase change material (PCM) is considered to be one-dimensional heat conduction along thickness direction since the capsule thickness is much smaller than the length and width. The solidification characteristics of the PCM are solved by an analytical method. The results show that the Bi number has influence on the temperature distribution in solid region. The effect of Ste and Bi number on the dimensionless time is discussed. The heat flux through solid region is analyzed by utilizing this model. This analytical method and results can conveniently predict solidification characteristics in a flat rectangular capsule for cold thermal energy storage system.
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