Numerical Investigation of Thermal Behavior of Nano-Phase Change Materials Due to Non-Newtonian Fluid Flow in the Porous Finned Tube

Abstract

In this study, the melting of different types of phase change materials in a heat exchanger, the effect of porosity, triangular fins, and the addition of aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, and copper oxide, nanoparticles on the thermal behavior of four types of materials are studied numerically. The enthalpy porosity method is used during the melting process. The main heat transfer fluid is non-Newtonian and the tube is filled with a porous medium. The nanoparticle volume fraction is varied from 0 to 10%, the fin height is considered from 0 to 6 mm, and the porosity is considered equal to 0.8991, 0.9138, 0.9486, and 1. Based on the results, RT26 has the lowest melting time, and RT35 has the longest melting time with an increasing percentage of approximately 250%. The addition of fins and nanoparticles leads to an increase in the liquid fraction. The full charge time of materials with the addition of aluminum oxide nanoparticles is slightly less than other nanoparticles. Furthermore, the effect of using fins is greater than the effect of the addition of nanoparticles to reduce the melting time. Also, the maximum increase in the liquid fraction is approximately 30% due to the absence of a porous medium.