Thermal simulation of phase change energy storage materials

Are phase change materials suitable for thermal energy storage?

Phase change materials (PCMs) having a large latent heat during solid-liquid phase transition are promising for thermal energy storage applications. However, the relatively low thermal conductivity of the majority of promising PCMs (<10 W/ (m ⋅ K)) limits the power density and overall storage efficiency.

Are phase change materials a thermal energy transfer fluid or a nanofluid?

Phase change materials (PCM) have had a significant role as thermal energy transfer fluids and nanofluids and as media for thermal energy storage. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, can play a significant role in addressing several thermo-physical problems of PCMs at the atomic scale by providing profound insights and new information.

What is a phase change material (PCM)?

Phase change materials (PCM) have had a significant role as thermal energy transfer fluids and nanofluids and as media for thermal energy storage. 1. Introduction One of the most significant problems at the moment is meeting rising energy needs.

How does a thermal storage system simulation work?

The simulation accurately computes various crucial parameters that are essential for assessing the efficiency of thermal storage systems based on PCMs. These encompass meticulous energy balances, offering a comprehensive perspective on energy preservation and effectiveness within the system.

What is a simulated heat transfer system?

The simulated system is a packed bed of encapsulated spheres, containing phase changing materials (PCM), placed inside a single cylindrical aluminum tank at an initial temperature of 20 °C. The PCMs and tank are heated up by the heat transfer fluid, water, entering the system at 90 °C.

Can COMSOL Multiphysics ® evaluate phase-changing material suitability for thermal energy storage?

This paper assesses the capability and sensitivity of COMSOL Multiphysics ® to evaluate phase-changing material suitability for Thermal Energy Storage. The simulated system is a packed bed of encapsulated spheres, containing phase changing materials (PCM), placed inside a single cylindrical aluminum tank at an initial temperature of 20 °C.