Heat and mass transfer analysis of thermally radiative nano-encapsulated phase change materials inside a porous cavity with exothermic chemical reaction

Abstract

This work presents a detailed numerical investigation of heat and mass transfer in a square cavity filled with a fluid containing nano-encapsulated phase change materials (NEPCMs), under the combined effects of thermal radiation and an exothermic chemical reaction. The study models the complex interplay between fluid flow, phase change behaviour, radiative heat transfers and reactive species transport. A finite element approach is employed to solve the governing equations, incorporating the enthalpy-porosity method to capture the phase transition dynamics. Key parameters such as the radiation parameter, nanoparticle volume fraction, thermal relaxation, fusion parameter and an exothermic chemical reaction rate are varied to assess their influence on thermal and concentration fields. Additionally, Nusselt numbers at the hot and cold walls are computed and presented in tabular format for analysis. The results reveal that the inclusion of NEPCMs enhances thermal energy storage and transport, while radiation and chemical reactions significantly alter the flow and temperature distributions. This investigation provides valuable insights into the design of advanced thermal management systems involving reactive and radiative transport in PCM-based applications.