Encapsulated phase change material for high temperature thermal energy storage – Heat transfer analysis

Abstract Thermal analysis of high temperature phase change materials (PCM) is conducted with the consideration of a 20% void and buoyancy-driven convection in a stainless steel capsule. The effects of the thermal expansion and the volume expansion due to phase change on the energy storage and retrieval process are investigated. Sodium nitrate is considered as a potential PCM for concentrated solar power applications. The charging and discharging into and from the capsule wall is simulated for different boundary conditions and is applied with both laminar and turbulent flow conditions. Computational models are conducted by applying an enthalpy-porosity method and volume of fluid method (VOF) to calculate the transport phenomena within the PCM capsule, including an internal air void. Energy storage and retrieval in different sized capsules is simulated. A cylindrical shaped EPCM capsule or tube is considered in simulations using both gas (air) and liquid (Therminol/VP-1) as the heat transfer fluid in a cross flow arrangement. Additionally a spherical shaped EPCM is considered with a constant wall temperature boundary condition to study the three-dimensional heat transfer effects. The presence of the void has profound effects on the thermal response of the EPCM during both energy storage and retrieval process. Melting and solidification per unit mass of the PCM takes longer when the void is present. Additionally, due to material properties and the lack of convective effects, the solidification process is much slower than the melting process.