Numerical Study of Latent Heat Discharge of a Phase Change Material Shell-and-Tube Thermal Energy Storage System

Solar energy is currently the most abundant and cleanest source of renewable energy, making it a good substitute for increasing efficiency. Solar water heaters can significantly reduce the cost of electricity consumption and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The solar heat exchanger, a phase-change heat storage system, is designed in this work. A numerical analysis was carried out to examine the impact of various cooling temperatures on the solidification thermal cycle of the phase change material. Phase Change Material (PCM) can be used to effectively regulate temperature. Depending on the PCM and its storage capacity, the temperature of the produced water is controlled. Through the tubes, a fluid used for heat transfer from the solar collector transfers heat from the sun’s rays to the PCM. During the discharge phase, the heat that has been stored in the PCM is then transferred to the water, heating it up. In order to quantitatively evaluate the thermal performance of the latent heat storage unit, a numerical simulation using the finite volume method was developed. To determine the best design, several simulations were carried out for the different types of PCM (Paraffin, n-eicosane and Rubitherm Paraffin) and also to improve their discharge time.