Solidification process of hybrid nano-enhanced phase change material in a LHTESS with tree-like branching fin in the presence of thermal radiation

Large amount of energy can be stored using the Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Systems (LHTESS). Present study deals with solidification process of Hybrid nano-enhanced Phase Change Material (HNEPCM) in a thermal storage system enhanced in the presence of tree-like branching fins and thermal radiation effect. In order to enhance the thermal conductivity of system, TiO2-Cu nanoparticles are added to water which is considered as phase change material. In order to simulate the unsteady heat and mass transfer during the solidification process, the Finite Element Method (FEM) along with adaptive mesh are employed. The effects of nanoparticles shape factor, radiation parameter and bifurcation angle of fin on solidification process are investigated. Applying Response Surface Methodology (RSM), a correlation for full solidification time as a function of nanoparticles shape factor, radiation parameter and bifurcation angle of fins is extracted. Results indicated that by enhancing the thermal radiation parameter and fin bifurcation angle, the average temperature and total energy of the system experience lower values, while the solid fraction increases. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.