Enhanced Heat Transfer for NePCM-Melting-Based Thermal Energy of Finned Heat Pipe

Nanoencapsulated phase change material in a trapezoidal prism wall under the magnetic field effect for energy storage purposes

Recently, Nano-encapsulated phase change materials (NEPCM) have attracted the attention of researchers due to their promising application in thermal management. This research investigates magnetohydrodynamic mixed convection of NEPCM contained within a lid-driven trapezoidal prism enclosure containing a hot-centered elliptical obstacle. The upper cavity wall is moving at a constant velocity; both inclined walls are cold, while the rest of the walls are insulated. The Galerkin Finite Element Method was used to solve the system's governing equations. The influence of Reynolds number (Re 1-500), Hartmann number (Ha = 0-100), NEPCM volumetric fraction φ (0-8%), and elliptical obstacle orientation α (0-3π/4) on thermal fields and flow patterns are introduced and analyzed. The results indicated that the maximum heat transfer rate is observed when the hot elliptic obstacle is oriented at 90°; an increment of 6% in the Nu number is obtained in this orientation compared to other orientations. Reducing Ha from 100 to 0 increased Nu by 14%. The Maximum value of the Bejan number was observed for the case of Ha = 0, α = 90° and φ = 0.08.

Heat Transfer and Fluids Properties of Nanofluids

As it is popular research field, extensive research has been performed in various areas of nanofluids, and most of the studies have demonstrated significant enhancements in their thermophysical properties and thermal transport performance compared to those of conventional thermal fluids. However, there have been unanimous conclusions regarding such enhancements and their underlying mechanisms. Nanofluids' potential and thermal applications mainly depend on their convective and boiling heat transfer performances, which are also not unbiased in the literature. On top of this, a major challenge with nanofluids is obtaining sustainable stability and persistent properties over a long duration. All these issues are very crucial for nanofluids' development and applications, and a lot of research in these areas has been conducted in recent years. Thus, this Special Issue, featuring a dozen of high-quality research and reviews on different types of nanofluids and their important topics related to thermophysical and electrical properties as well as convective and boiling heat transfer characteristics, is of great significance for the progress and real-world applications of this new class of fluids.

Enhancing the Melting Process of Shell-and-Tube PCM Thermal Energy Storage Unit Using Modified Tube Design

Recently, phase change materials (PCMs) have gained great attention from engineers and researchers due to their exceptional properties for thermal energy storing, which would effectively aid in reducing carbon footprint and support the global transition of using renewable energy. The current research attempts to enhance the thermal performance of a shell-and-tube heat exchanger by means of using PCM and a modified tube design. The enthalpy-porosity method is employed for modelling the phase change. Paraffin wax is treated as PCM and poured within the annulus; the annulus comprises a circular shell and a fined wavy (trefoil-shaped) tube. In addition, copper nanoparticles are incorporated with the base PCM to enhance the thermal conductivity and melting rate. Effects of many factors, including nanoparticle concentration, the orientation of the interior wavy tube, and the fin length, were examined. Results obtained from the current model imply that Cu nanoparticles added to PCM materials improve thermal and melting properties while reducing entropy formation. The highest results (27% decrease in melting time) are obtained when a concentration of nanoparticles of 8% is used. Additionally, the fins' location is critical because fins with 45° inclination could achieve a 50% expedition in the melting process.

Natural Convection within Inversed T-Shaped Enclosure Filled by Nano-Enhanced Phase Change Material: Numerical Investigation

Energy saving has always been a topic of great interest. The usage of nano-enhanced phase change material NePCM is one of the energy-saving methods that has gained increasing interest. In the current report, we intend to simulate the natural convection flow of NePCM inside an inverse T-shaped enclosure. The complex nature of the flow results from the following factors: the enclosure contains a hot trapezoidal fin on the bottom wall, the enclosure is saturated with pours media, and it is exposed to a magnetic field. The governing equations of the studied system are numerically addressed by the higher order Galerkin finite element method (GFEM). The impacts of the Darcy number (Da = 10^-2-10^-5), Rayleigh number (Ra = 10³-10⁶), nanoparticle volume fraction (φ = 0-0.08), and Hartmann number (Ha = 0-100) are analyzed. The results indicate that both local and average Nusselt numbers were considerably affected by Ra and Da values, while the influence of other parameters was negligible. Increasing Ra (increasing buoyancy force) from 10³ to 10⁶ enhanced the maximum average Nusselt number by 740%, while increasing Da (increasing the permeability) from 10^-5 to 10^-2 enhanced both the maximum average Nusselt number and the maximum local Nusselt number by the same rate (360%).

A Numerical Investigation of a Melting Rate Enhancement inside a Thermal Energy Storage System of Finned Heat Pipe with Nano-Enhanced Phase Change Material

Thermal energy storage via the use of latent heat and phase transition materials is a popular technology in energy storage systems. It is vital to research different thermal enhancement techniques to further improve phase transition materials’ weak thermal conductivity in these systems. This work addresses the creation of a basic shell and a tube thermal storage device with wavy outer walls. Then, two key methods for thermal augmentation are discussed: fins and the use of a nano-enhanced phase change material (NePCM). Using the enthalpy–porosity methodology, a numerical model is developed to highlight the viability of designing such a model utilizing reduced assumptions, both for engineering considerations and real-time predictive control methods. Different concentrations of copper nanoparticles (0, 2, and 4 vol%) and wavenumbers (4,6 and 8) are investigated in order to obtain the best heat transmission and acceleration of the melting process. The time required to reach total melting in the studied TES system is reduced by 14% and 31% in the examined TES system, respectively, when NePCM (4 vol% nanoparticles) and N = 8 are used instead of pure PCM and N = 4. The finding from this investigation could be used to design a shell-and-tube base thermal energy storage unit.

Melting enhancement of PCM in a finned tube latent heat thermal energy storage

The current paper discusses the numerical simulation results of the NePCM melting process inside an annulus thermal storage system. The TES system consists of a wavy shell wall and a cylindrical tube equipped with three fins. The enthalpy-porosity method was utilized to address the transient behavior of the melting process, while the Galerkin FE technique was used to solve the system governing equations. The results were displayed for different inner tube positions (right-left–up and down), inner cylinder rotation angle (0 ≤ α ≤ 3π/2), and the nano-additives concentration (0 ≤ ϕ ≤ 0.04). The findings indicated that high values of nano-additives concentration (0.4), bigger values of tube rotation angle (3π/2), and location of the tube at the lower position accelerated the NePCM melting process.

Numerical Study of Heat Transfer Enhancement within Confined Shell and Tube Latent Heat Thermal Storage Microsystem Using Hexagonal PCMs

Thermophoresis represents one of the most common methods of directing micromachines. Enhancement of heat transfer rates are of economic interest for micromachine operation. This study aims to examine the heat transfer enhancement within the shell and tube latent heat thermal storage system (LHTSS) using PCMs (Phase Change Materials). The enthalpy–porosity approach is applied to formulate the melting situation and various shapes of inner heated fins are considered. The solution methodology is based on the Galerkin finite element analyses and wide ranges of the nanoparticle volume fraction are assumed, i.e., (0% ≤ φ ≤ 6%). The system entropy and the optimization of irreversibility are analyzed using the second law of the thermodynamics. The key outcomes revealed that the flow features, hexagonal entropy, and melting rate might be adjusted by varying the number of heated fins. Additionally, in case 4 where eight heated fins are considered, the highest results for the average liquid percentage are obtained.