Numerical Investigation on Shell and Tube Latent Thermal Energy Storage Partially Filled With Metal Foam and Corrugated Internal Tube

Abstract A numerical investigation on Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage System (LHTESS), based on a phase change material (PCM) partially filled with metal foam, is accomplished. The geometry of the system is a vertical shell and tube LHTES made with two concentric aluminum tubes with the internal tube corrugated. The corrugated internal surface of the hollow cylinder is assumed at a constant temperature above the melting temperature of the PCM to simulate the heat transfer from a hot fluid. The other external surfaces are assumed adiabatic. The phase change of the PCM is modelled with the enthalpy porosity theory while the metal foam is considered as a porous media that obeys to the Darcy-Forchheimer law. Local thermal equilibrium (LTE) model is assumed to analyze the metal foam. Numerical simulations for PCM and PCM in the porous medium in LTE assumptions are obtained and their results are compared in terms of melting time, temperature fields and energy stored. The results show that the heat transfer in the LHTES system improves giving a very faster phase change process when the presence of metal foam increases.