Lattice Boltzmann Simulations on the Charging Procedure of a Solar Storage Tank With Immersed Phase Change Materials

The transient charging procedure of a rectangular solar storage tank with immersed tubes filled by phase change materials (PCM) have been simulated by a Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM). The energy charge speeds for the storage tank with and without the PCM have been compared. The transient temperature and flow fields including melting of the PCM are also presented. The transient interfaces between fluid and solid are clearly shown. The enhancement of the energy storage capability due to the PCM is calculated based on the simulation results. Also the effects of the arrangement of the PCM are discussed.Copyright © 2015 by ASME