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Performance Analysis of Packed Bed Latent Heat Storage Tank Using Comsol

Article · November 2020

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Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology
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Performance Analysis of Packed Bed Latent Heat Storage Tank
Using Comsol

Hamza Abbasa, Muhammad Yaseenb, Wajeeh Ur Rehmanc

Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences And Technology,
Topi, Swabi, Pakistan.

Keywords: Latent Heat, heat treatment, Heat storage density.

Abstract

This paper is aimed at analyzing the improvements which could be made in the packed bed latent heat
storage capsule to improve the heat storage capacity. The improved packed bed is composed of
spherical capsules filled with paraffin wax as PCM usable with a solar water heating system and fins
which extent from the inner wall of the capsule to the negative x-direction. In this study, the factors
used are the flow rate of water, initial temperature of water, conductivity of the fins(copper). The
water used as heat transfer fluid (HTF) to transfer heat from the solar collector to the storage tank.
For the proper modeling of performance of the system the phase change temperature range must be
accurately known, and should be taken into account. The results indicates that there is a improvement
in the heat storage capacity and rate of heat transfer from the water to the paraffin material when fins
made up of copper(conductive material) are used.

Introduction

In the universe energy can be stored as sensible heat, latent heat, reaction heat, or combination of
these [1,2].So in the effort of storing thermal energy in a short region efforts are being made and one
of them is the use of latent bed heat storage which has its applications on solar thermal energy storage,
low temperature storage systems for central air conditioning, energy efficient buildings and waste heat
recovery systems[3]. Due to the advantage of large surface to volume ratio and of high heat storage
density, small size of the system and a narrow temperature change, the phase change materials in
latent heat systems are promising heat storage materials[4].
The first analytical study on modeling of the packed bed was conducted by Schumann [5] and most of
the work reported till date has been focused on Schumann’s model. In the modern analysis Laybourn
[6] predicted the heat transfer rates of cold storage tank during charging and discharging for building
cooling applications with rectangular capsules using the concept of thermal resistance.
The main objective of this work is to investigate phase change temperature range of performance of
latent heat thermal energy storage systems and the effect of inlet heat transfer fluid temperature and
the fluid flow rate. Thermal energy storage units are used to accumulate thermal energy from solar,
geothermal, or waste heat sources. The thermal capacity of these tanks can be further increased by
including latent heat, which gives rise to latent heat storage (LHS) units and by using fins made up of
conductive material because the rate of heat transfer from water to the paraffin wax(PCM) is low.
In this way, the performance of the heat storage tank can be improved and the maximum heat from
the warm water can be used. For making fins we had to test no. of models to choosing the right one.
The model must provides the maximum storage time and minimum material for fins.

Working principle of heat storage system

The phase change material (PCM) plays an important role in energy conservation because of its high
average density with very small temperature change, in heat storage system. Solar thermal energy can
be captured through natural convection in heat storage system. The amount of heat storage depends
upon the type of PCM was used, specific heat of medium and temperature change and the rate of heat
to the PCM material. Paraffin Wax is called latent heat storage material, as because of variation in
change in temperature they change their state. Due to change in temperature the bonds within PCM
breaks, the material change its state from solid to liquid. During phase change process the temperature
remains constant, and heat is stored as latent heat. The PCM stored heat without significant change in
temperature. When the surrounding temperature around a liquid material falls, the PCM solidifies and
releases its stored latent heat, which it stored when it was a solid paraffin wax.

The spherical capsule, contains water with PCM and fins(copper).Heat transfer takes place by fluid
flows from the spherical cylinder from one inlet to outlet as shown in Fig 1.1 and this thermal energy
storage system is insulated from surrounding to minimize the loss of energy which is stored as latent
heat for various applications.

Fig 1.1
Numerical and Analytical Investigation

In this study we use COSMOL Multiphysics 5.5, which uses the finite element method to solve
equations. The thermal storage unit which is spherical in our case has length of approximately 0.85m
and insulated by 50mm thick insulated sheet for minimizing the heat loss to the environment.

Fig 1.2

Some of the basic assumption while investigating the heat flow of HTS.
• Variation of temperature is along the axial direction only.
• The flow in tank is incompressible and axial.
• There is no heat generation.
• Radiant heat transfer is negligible.

Different Modifications:
Mainly there are two types of modification which could be made and are described below:
Use of Plate type Conductive Material.(Copper)
Use of Fins (Copper)
 1- Use of Plate type Conductive Material(Copper):

A plate of copper could be used to increase the storage capacity of the heat storage tank .Now let me
discuss the positive and negative of using the plate type conductive material.

Fig 1.3

The width and height of the plate are 0.04m and 0.47m respectively.

The Fig 1.4 shown the total time required to completely melt the wax.(Time to change phase from
solid to liquid).The time obtained is 11 hour which is more then the time which was required when
there was no plate installed in the heat storage capsule(which was 10 hours).
Now let us discuss what it mean if the time has increase by 1 hour:

It means that the wax is taking more time in conversion from the solid to liquid form.And the
material find it difficult to reach the desired temperature.It means it will absorb more heat before it
is completely converted into liquid state.The heat stoage capacity has been increased but we will
have to consider the total material used and the cost of the material.The length and the width of the
copper plate used is large so the cost would to high.
 .

Fig 1.4

2- Use of Fins (Copper)

We have taken different no. of fins with different lengths and widths to find the best configuration
which will give us maximum storage time with less material consumption.

12 Fins(with width:0.02m ,Height: 0.014m):

Fig 1.5 shows the schematic.

Fig 1.5

Fig 1.6
Fig 1.6 shown the time required to melt the PCM which is 10.25 hours.

12 Fins(with width:0.06m ,Height: 0.014m):

Fig 1.7 shows the schematic in which there are 12 fins and each fin has a wigth of 0.06m.

Fig 1.7
 Fig 1.8

The Fig 1.8 shows the time of 10.25 hours for melting of the wax.It shows that this is the maximun
time achieved by using 12 fins.And less material consuming configuration is the previous one in
which 0.02m width was used because for both configrations the time was founded to be the same.

16 Fins(with width:0.02m ,Height: 0.014m):

Fig 1.9 showns the schematic in which there are 16 fins and the width is 0.02m.
Fig 1.9

Fig 2.0
The fig 2.0 shown the melting time which is 10.25 hours.

Now we will develop another model with 16 fins.This model is shown below.

16 Fins(with width:0.06m ,Height: 0.014m):

Fig 2.1 shown the schematic of schematic of the model in which there are 16 fin and width of each
fin is 0.06m.

Fig 2.1
 Fig 2.2

The Fig 2.2 shows the value of 10.25 hour to store heat which is the same as that given in the prevous
Fig 2. And if the different is less then 0.25 hour then it cannot be detected by using Comsol.

24 Fins(with width:0.06m ,Height: 0.014m):

The Fig 2.3 shows schematic of the model consists of 24 fins:

Fig 2.3

Fig 2.4
The Fig 2.4 shows that the time of conversion from solid to liquid is 11 hours.tThe width of each fin is
0.06m.

24 Fins(with width:0.02m ,Height: 0.014m):

The Fig 2.5 shows schematic of the model consists of 24 fins with width 0.02m.

Fig 2.5
 Fig 2.6

The Fig 2.6 shows that the conversion time of wax from solid to liquid is 11 hour.The time is the same
like of (24 Fins with width:0.06m ,Height: 0.014m) and the plate type arrangement but the main
advantage of selection this model over the other two model is least quantity of material is used.
If you further decrease the width then the conversion time with decrease.So,this is the optimized
arrangement which I have gone using the 2D geometry and Fins.(which are 24 in no. made up of
copper and with a spacing of 0.006m).
Description of 24 Fins(with width:0.02m ,Height: 0.014m) Solution:

3D Model:

Fig 2.7

Fluid:

Fluid flows in this section with an inlet and outlet .In this section energy is stored because of change
of phase of substance without change in temperature. It means that the latent heat transfer occurs
from this surface to the outer surface as the heat transfer occurs at same temperature, so that heat
can be stored in this section for a long time.
 Fig 2.8
Thermal Insulation:

Insulation of Glass Wool is made so that energy which has been stored because of the phase change
process by applying high pressure cannot go out of the section. In this way, we have increased
effectiveness of latent heat storage system.

Fig 2.9
 The following Fig 2.10 shows the pressure and the temperature gradient inside the boby and that of
the insulation surface.There is a maximum pressure of 1*10^5 Pa which is obtained at the inlet.And
the maximum temperature is obtain at the center-point near the inner insulation boundary which is
equal to 350 K.This think also shows that insulation is working properly.If the insulation was not
working properly then some temperature gradient could be present at the outer surface of the Glass
Wool insulation.

Fig 2.10

Temperature Evolution:

The Fig 3.1 shown the variation of Paraffin Temperatue,Water Temperature and Porous median
temperature with time.Three dotted line of different colours show the paraffin temperature at three
different points (0,0.05),(0,0.235),(0,0.42). Three dash lines of different colours show the Water
temperature at three different points (0,0.05),(0,0.235),(0,0.42). Three complete line of different
colours show the porous median temperatre at three different points (0,0.05),(0,0.235),(0,0.42).

The threes line which are showing the water temperature are relatively simple.These lines show that
the temperature of water at three different is increasing with time.

The three lines of paraffin temperature and three lines of porous median temperature are shoulding
the transfer of heat at constant temperature.
Paraffin Temperature of three different points are shoulding that initially the heat transfer is by
sensible heat and the heat is transfer at constant temperature(latent heat). The during of latent heat
transfer is maximun at (0,0.05)[from 4-8.3 hour] and then decrease at other two points.This is the
reason we called this system as a packed bed latent heat storage system.

Fig 3.1

Temperature Across Each Fin:

The temperature difference from the starting fin to the end is just 3.6 K but the temperature of the
first fin at the entrance of the water is the highest.And the cusp or instant drop in temperature is
because of the gape between the fins as shown is Fig 3.2
 Fig 3.2
Result nd Discussion:

It can be seen from the the report that by using plate type and two fin type solutions to the problem
we are getting the same amount of heat storage capacity but we have choosen the solution which is
giving maximum heat storage capacity and is economical also.So,we have choosen 24 Fins(with
width:0.02m ,Height: 0.014m) as a solution.This solution can be further improve by making a 3D
geometry and using a staggered arrangement of Fins.

Conclusion
This analysis was performed to enhances the heat transfer in the thermal heat storage system due
to latent heat and sensible heat transfer with the help of structures known as Fins. In this analysis we
had tried to find a solution to increase the heat storage capacity to its maximum possible value by
using least amount of material.
 References

[1] M.M. Farid, A.M. Khudhair, S.A.K. Razack, S. Al-Hallaj, A review on phase change
energy storage: materials and applications, Energy Conversion and Management
45 (2004) 1597–1615.
[2] M. Kenisarin, K. Mahkamov, Solar energy storage using phase change materials,
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 11 (2007) 1913–1965.
[3] Felix Regin A, Solanki SC, Saini JS. Heat transfer characteristics of thermal
energy storage system using PCM capsule: a review. Renewable and
Sustainable Energy Reviews 2008;12:2438–58
[4] A.F. Regin, S.C. Solanki, J.S. Saini, Heat transfer characteristics of thermal energy
[5] Schumann TEW. Heat transfer: a liquid flowing through a porous prism.
Journal of the Franklin Institute 1929;208:405–16.
storage system using PCM capsules: a review, Renewable and Sustainable
[6] Laybourn DR. Thermal energy storage with encapsulated ice. ASHRAE Transactions
1988;94:1971–88. Energy Review 12 (2008) 2438–2458.
[7] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tmeb5MM-51U

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