This article is cited in 30 papers

Numerical study of solidification of a nano-enhanced phase change material (NEPCM) in a thermal storage system

S. Kashani^a, A. A. Ranjbar^b, M. M. Madani^a, M. Mastiani^cd, H. Jalaly<sup>a

a</sup> Gorgan Branch, Kordkuy Center, Islamic Azad University, Golestan, Iran
^b Babol University of Technology, P.O. Box: 484, Babol, Iran
^c Urmia University of Technology, Urmia, Iran
^d Delvar Afzar Industrial Gases Co., Ltd., Tehran, Iran

Abstract: The effects of nanoparticle dispersion on solidification of a Cu – $n$-hexadecane nanofluid inside a vertical enclosure are investigated numerically for different temperatures of the left vertical wall. An enthalpy porosity technique is used to trace the solid-liquid interface. The resulting nanoparticle-enhanced phase change materials (NEPCMs) exhibit enhanced thermal conductivity in comparison to the base material. The effect of the wall temperature and nanoparticle volume fraction are studied in terms of the solid fraction and the shape of the solid-liquid phase front. It has been found that a lower wall temperature and a higher nanoparticle volume fraction result in a larger solid fraction. The increase in the heat release rate of the NEPCM shows its great potential for diverse thermal energy storage applications.

Keywords: nanoparticle, phase change material, thermal storage, natural convection.

UDC: 536.2; 519.6

Received: 30.05.2011
Revised: 24.04.2012

 English version: Journal of Applied Mechanics and Technical Physics, 2013, 54:5, 702–712

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