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Numerical investigation of the influence of unsteady inlet temperature on heat storage performance of a novel bifurcated finned shell-tube heat storage tank

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  • Li, Tao
  • Zhu, Yuanyuan
  • Hu, Xinlei
  • Mao, Qianjun

Abstract

Due to the change of solar radiant intensity with time, the melting process in the phase change energy storage system connected to the solar collector occurs under the unsteady inlet temperature. Three unsteady inlet temperature conditions have been proposed, and their average inlet temperature has been used as the corresponding steady inlet temperature conditions to form three comparative working conditions. Under different comparison conditions, a three-dimensional numerical comparison analysis has been conducted on the heat storage performance of a novel bifurcated finned shell-tube heat storage tank. Compared with the corresponding steady inlet temperature condition, the unsteady inlet temperature condition can accelerate the melting process and improve the temperature uniformity of the phase change material. The liquid fraction differences of TA and Ta, TC and Tc at the end of the reaction are 9.5% and 7.5% respectively, and the difference in the time required for the liquid fractions of TB and Tb to reach 1 is 17.7%. The evaluation coefficients for the three comparative working conditions are 3.1, 1.3 and 3.6 respectively. The results can provide a certain reference value for the performance optimization and practical application of the latent heat storage system.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Tao & Zhu, Yuanyuan & Hu, Xinlei & Mao, Qianjun, 2023. "Numerical investigation of the influence of unsteady inlet temperature on heat storage performance of a novel bifurcated finned shell-tube heat storage tank," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:280:y:2023:i:c:s0360544223015517
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2023.128157
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