Enhancing the Performance of Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage using Different Configurations and Designs of Heat Transfer Pipes

The modification of the geometric configurations of heat transfer pipes in Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage (LHTES) systems not only enhances the melting process of the Phase Change Material (PCM), but also improves the overall performance of these systems. The current research aims to investigate various configurations of heat transfer pipes with external fins and internal tapes. Eight different geometric configurations are modeled in the LHTES system: (a) base case – straight pipe, (b) pipe with horizontal fins, (c) pipe with vertical fins, (d) pipe with wavy fins, (e) pipe with horizontal internal tape, (f) pipe with internal vertical tape, (g) pipe with twisted tape, (h) pipe with external wavy fins and with internal twisted tape. The results show that between 0 and 29 minutes, the pipe configuration with wavy fins with twisted tape consistently exhibits the fastest melting process. Beyond 29 minutes, the configuration with vertical fins case demonstrates a slightly faster melting process than the case where wavy fins with twisted tape are used. The internal tapes also contribute to accelerated melting, though to a lesser extent than the configuration with fins. The appealing attributes of these configurations make them ideal for crafting efficient energy storage systems.