Effect of fin location on constrained melting heat transfer of phase change material in a spherical capsule: A numerical study

Here, the effect of fin location of a single fin on the constrained melting behavior of phase change material (PCM) in a spherical latent heat storage unit is studied by employing two dimensional transient numerical simulations. A single fin of fixed length is situated at the center 12.5 mm and 25 mm away from the center in both upward and downward direction. Different parameters such as solid-liquid interface, temperature distribution, velocity vector, melt fraction, the melting characteristics of PCM and heat transfer enhancement for different fin locations are analyzed in detail in this study. The total melting time is found to increase by 72% and 54% for case when the fin is located at 25 mm,12.5 mm and 63% and 47% for the case when the fin is located at 25 mm,12.5 mm away from the center in both upward and downward direction respectively. Compared to other cases, the maximum enhancement ratio attained is of 107.28%, when the fin is located at the center.

Automated summary

This study investigates the constrained melting behavior of phase change material in a spherical latent heat storage unit with a single fin, and finds that the location of the fin significantly affects the melting characteristics and heat transfer enhancement of PCM.