Analysis of solidification in a finite PCM storage with internal fins by employing heat balance integral method

摘要

Summary Here, a simplified analytical model has been proposed to predict solid fraction, solid–liquid interface, solidification time, and temperature distribution during solidification of phase change material (PCM) in a two‐dimensional latent heat thermal energy storage system (LHTES) with horizontal internal plate fins. Host of boundary conditions such as imposed constant heat flux, end‐wall temperature, and convective air environment on the vertical walls are considered for the analysis. Heat balance integral method was used to obtain the solution. Present model yields closed‐form solution for temperature variation and solid fraction as a function of various modeling parameters. Also, solidification time of PCM, which is useful in optimum design of PCM‐based thermal energy storages, has been evaluated during the analysis. The solidification time was found to be reduced by 93 by reducing the aspect ratio from 8 to 0.125 for constant heat flux boundary condition. While, for constant wall temperature boundary condition, the solidification time reduces by 99 by changing the aspect ratio from 5 to 0.05. In case of convective air boundary surrounding, the solidification time is found to reduce by 88 by reducing the aspect ratio from 8 to 0.125. Based on the analytical solution, correlations have been proposed to predict solidification time in terms of aspect ratio and end‐wall boundary condition.