Heat Transfer Analysis of a High-Temperature Heat Pipe-Assisted Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage System Enhanced by Metal Foam

Abstract

Numerical simulations are performed to analyse the thermal characteristics of a latent heat thermal energy storage system with phase change material embedded in highly conductive porous media. A network of finned-heat pipes is also employed to enhance the heat transfer within the system. ANSYS-FLUENT 19.0 is used to create a transient multiphase computational model to simulate the thermal behavior of the storage unit. Copper foam is the porous media used to enhance the heat transfer and is impregnated with the phase change material, potassium nitrate (KNO3). The effects of porosity of the metal foam and quantity of heat pipes on the thermal characteristics of storage unit during the charging process have been studied.