Transient laminar flow past an in-line cylinders array containing phase change material (PCM) is simulated using the finite-element method. The problem of the PCM in the cylinders and transient forced convection heat transfer simulates the thermal behaviour of an energy storage system. A parametric study of heat exchanges between the PCM and flow (expressed by the Nusselt number) is reported for Reynolds numbers between 125 and 1000. The pitch to diameter ratios (PDRs) are varied and the Prandtl number is fixed at 0.71. The PCM melting time is predicted for the examined range of Reynolds numbers and PDRs. Plots of the velocity flow field and isotherms are presented. Results are compared favourably with published numerical results. The results indicated that the Reynolds number has a significant effect on the PCM melting time, whereas the PDR has an insignificant effect.
ZalbaB.MarinJ.CabezaL.MehlingH.Review on thermal energy storage with phase change: Materials, heat transfer analysis and applicationsAppl. Thermal Eng.23 (2003): 251–283.
2.
FaridM.KhudhairA.RazackS.Al-HallajS.A review on phase change energy storage: Materials and applicationEnergy Convers. Manage.45 (2004): 1597–1615.
3.
NeeperD.Thermal dynamics of wallboard with latent heat storageSol. Energy68 (2000): 393–403.
4.
IsmailK.CastroJ.PCM thermal insulation in buildingsInt. J. Energy Res.21 (1997): 1281–1296.
5.
KurkluA.OzmerziA.BilginS.Thermal performance of a water phase change material solar collectorRenew. Energy26 (2002): 391–399.
6.
AlawadhiE.AmonC.PCM thermal control unit for portable electronic devices: Experimental and numerical studiesIEEE Trans. Compon. Packag. Technol.26 (2003): 116–125.
7.
PalD.JoshiY.Application of phase change materials to thermal control of electronic modules: A computational studyAdv. Electron. Packag.10 (1995): 1307–1315.
8.
El QarniaH.Theoretical study of transient response of a rectangular latent heat thermal energy storage system with conjugate forced convectionEnergy Convers. Manage.45 (2004): 1539–1551.
9.
LaouadiA.LacroixM.Thermal performance of a latent heat energy storage ventilation panel for electronic load managementInt. J. Heat Mass Transf.42 (1999): 275–286.
10.
InabaH.MatsuoK.HoribeA.Numerical simulation for fin effect of a rectangular latent heat storage vessel packed with molten salt under heat release processInt. J. Heat Mass Transf.39 (2003): 231–237.
11.
CaoY.FaghriA.Performance characteristics of a thermal energy storage module: A transient PCM/forced convection conjugate analysisInt. J. Heat Mass Transf.39 (1991): 93–101.
12.
FathH.Heat exchanger performance for latent heat thermal energy storage systemEnergy Convers. Manage.31 (1991): 149–155.
13.
GongZ.MujumdarA.Cyclic heat transfer in a naval storage unit of multiple phase change materialAppl. Thermal Eng.16 (1996): 807–815.
14.
GongZ.MujumdarA.Finite-element analysis of cyclic heat transfer in a shell-and-tube latent heat energy storage exchangerAppl. Thermal Eng.17 (1997): 583–591.
15.
IsmailK.JesusA.Parametric study of solidification of PCM around a cylinder for ice-bank applicationsInt. J. Refrig.24 (2001): 809–822.
16.
GowdaY.PatnaikB.NarayanaP.SeetharamuK.Finite element simulation of transient laminar flow and heat transfer past an in-line tube bankInt. J. Heat Fluid Flow19 (1998): 49–55.
17.
StanescuG.FowlerA.BejanA.The optimal spacing of cylinders in free-stream cross-flow forced convectionInt. J. Heat Mass Transf.39 (1996): 311–317.
18.
WangM.GeorgiadisJ.Conjugate forced convection in cross flow over a cylinder array with volumetric heatingInt. J. Heat Mass Transf.39 (1996): 1351–1361.
19.
AlawadhiE.Phase change process with free convection in a circular enclosure: Numerical simulationsComput. Fluids33 (2004): 1335–1348.
20.
AlhamaF.Gonzalez-FernandezC. F.Network simulation method for solving phase-change heat transfer problems with variable thermal propertiesInt. J. Heat Mass Transf.38 (2002): 327–335.
21.
VollerV. R.An enthalpy method for convection/diffusion phase changeInt. J. Numer. Methods Eng.24 (1987): 271–284.
22.
VollerV.CrossM.Accurate solution of moving boundary problems using the enthalpy methodInt. J. Heat Mass Transf.24 (1981): 545–556.
23.
BrooksA. N.HughesT. J. R.Streamline upwind/Petrov-Galerkin formulation for convection dominated flows with particular emphasis on the incompressible Navier-Stokes equationComput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng.32 (1982): 199–259.
24.
ArgyrisJ.Petrov-Galerkin finite element approach to coupled heat and fluid flowComput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng.94 (1992): 181–200.
