NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF MELTING PROCESS IN HORIZONTAL SHELL-AND-TUBE PHASE CHANGE MATERIAL STORAGE CONSIDERING DIFFERENT HTF CHANNEL GEOMETRIES

摘要

This work studies the effect of channel geometries on melting process (charging) in a phase change material (PCM) cylindrical storage. In order to investigate the melting process, different geometries of HTF channel cross section including circular, rectangular, elliptical, square, and diamond-like are considered. The results show that the melting time of 75% of PCM for all models is very close to each other and there is no significant difference. Thenceforward the main differences appear that depend on the geometry of PCM storage and the impact of the buoyant force. Through this study it is found that PCM cylindrical storage with vertical rectangular cross section has the highest melting rate in comparison with all models, and the melting time decreases to 74% of the circular cross section, while horizontal rectangular and elliptical cross sections melt slower than other all models.