Solidification expedition of Phase Change Material in a triplex-tube storage unit via novel fins and SWCNT nanoparticles

Abstract Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage System (LHTESS) is effectively used to mitigate the imbalance between the energy stores and requirements. This investigation is on performance enhancement of a triplex-tube LHTESS based on solidification procedure by using innovative Y-shape fins and Nano-Enhanced Phase Change Material (NEPCM). At first, Y-shaped fins are provided to accelerate the solidification procedure in the LHTESS. In this regard, Response Surface Method (RSM) is proposed to optimize the Y-shaped fin configuration. Achieving minimum solidification time is regarded as the goal of optimization process. In a separate analysis, the solidification procedure is accelerated by mixing nanoparticles in pure PCM. Finally, a comparison between both enhancement approaches is performed from the sight of solidification expedition. The solidification procedure is simulated in LHTESS based on Standard Galerkin Finite Element Method (SGFEM). Results represent that fin optimization leads to a reduction of 48.53% in solidification time compared to without fin one.