IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v342y2026ics0360544225053320.html

Experimental investigation of flow pattern evolution and convective heat transfer of CO2+TBAB hydrate slurry during cold release in a horizontal pipe

Author

Listed:
  • Yang, Kairan
  • Zhang, Peng

Abstract

The CO2+TBAB (tetrabutylammonium bromide) hydrate slurry is an ideal medium for cold energy storage due to its large latent heat, good fluidity and adjustable phase change temperature. During cold energy release, CO2+TBAB hydrate slurry undergoes complex gas-liquid-solid three-phase flow and heat transfer due to hydrate dissociation into CO2 gas and liquid, altering phase distribution and flow pattern in pipes. In this study, the flow pattern evolution and convective heat transfer characteristics of CO2+TBAB hydrate slurry in a horizontal pipe under varying flow velocities (0.08–0.69 m s−1) and solid mass fractions (0.033–0.302) are experimentally studied. The evolution of flow patterns during the dissociation process is captured through a visual pipe section, and four distinct flow patterns: stratified, slug, plug, and bubbly flow, are identified with transition velocities highly dependent on the quantity of CO2 bubble generation, coalescence degree and interphase interaction. Convective heat transfer coefficients are measured across laminar and turbulent flow regimes, indicating that local convective heat transfer coefficient decreases along flow direction, and the aggregation of CO2 bubble weakens the heat transfer. While elevating flow velocities (>0.3 m s−1) can evidently enhance turbulence and CO2 bubble dispersion, reducing the impact of CO2 bubble and improving heat transfer performance. The heat transfer performance is improved at higher solid mass fractions due to the increase in solid-liquid phase interface area. Furthermore, an empirical heat transfer correlation is proposed, incorporating modified Reynolds, Prandtl, and Stefan numbers, with good agreement between the predicted and experimental results. These findings provide critical insights for optimizing CO2+TBAB hydrate slurry applications in energy-efficient cold storage and air-conditioning systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Yang, Kairan & Zhang, Peng, 2026. "Experimental investigation of flow pattern evolution and convective heat transfer of CO2+TBAB hydrate slurry during cold release in a horizontal pipe," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 342(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:342:y:2026:i:c:s0360544225053320
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.139690
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544225053320
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2025.139690?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ma, Fei & Zhang, Peng, 2020. "A review of thermo-fluidic performance and application of shellless phase change slurry: Part 2 – Flow and heat transfer characteristics," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    2. Yang, Kairan & Chen, Zuozhou & Zhang, Peng, 2025. "Production and flow behaviors of CO2+TBAB hydrate slurry for cold storage and transport application," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 316(C).
    3. Pons, Michel & Delahaye, Anthony & Fournaison, Laurence & Dalmazzone, Didier, 2018. "Energy analysis of two-phase secondary refrigeration in steady-state operation, part 2: Exergy analysis and effects of phase change kinetics," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 1291-1299.
    4. Shi, X.J. & Zhang, P., 2016. "Conjugated heat and mass transfer during flow melting of a phase change material slurry in pipes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 58-68.
    5. Yang, Kairan & Guo, Weimin & Zhang, Peng, 2024. "Cold energy transport and release characteristics of CO2+TBAB hydrate slurry flow with hydrate dissociation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).
    6. Yang, Kairan & Chen, Zuozhou & Zhang, Peng, 2024. "State-of-the-art of cold energy storage, release and transport using CO2 double hydrate slurry," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 358(C).
    7. Zhang, P. & Ma, Z.W., 2012. "An overview of fundamental studies and applications of phase change material slurries to secondary loop refrigeration and air conditioning systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(7), pages 5021-5058.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yang, Kairan & Chen, Zuozhou & Zhang, Peng, 2025. "Production and flow behaviors of CO2+TBAB hydrate slurry for cold storage and transport application," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 316(C).
    2. Yang, Kairan & Guo, Weimin & Zhang, Peng, 2024. "Cold energy transport and release characteristics of CO2+TBAB hydrate slurry flow with hydrate dissociation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).
    3. Niezgoda-Żelasko, Beata & Kuchmacz, Jan, 2025. "CFD modelling of the flow of ice slurry in plate heat exchanger channels," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 317(C).
    4. Ma, Fei & Zhang, Peng, 2020. "A review of thermo-fluidic performance and application of shellless phase change slurry: Part 2 – Flow and heat transfer characteristics," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    5. Tiwari, Vipul Kumar & Kumar, Alok & Kumar, Arvind, 2019. "Enhancing ice slurry generation by using inclined cavity for subzero cold thermal energy storage: Simulation, experiment and performance analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 398-414.
    6. Sun, Shicai & Zhang, Rundong & Gu, Linlin & Cui, Junhao & Zhao, Yanping & Tian, Wanxin & Pan, Tong, 2024. "Melting characteristics of TBAB CHS in fan coil units and room air flow field distribution," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    7. Jiang, Lanlan & Zhang, Lianke & Cheng, Zucheng & Liang, Cai & Hao, Yajie & Wang, Lei & Song, Yongchen, 2025. "CO2 double hydrate slurry for cold energy storage and transport: phase change characterization, rheological studies and L-Tryptophan modulation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 326(C).
    8. Dufour, Thomas & Hoang, Hong Minh & Oignet, Jérémy & Osswald, Véronique & Fournaison, Laurence & Delahaye, Anthony, 2019. "Experimental and modelling study of energy efficiency of CO2 hydrate slurry in a coil heat exchanger," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C), pages 492-505.
    9. Yang, Kairan & Chen, Zuozhou & Zhang, Peng, 2024. "State-of-the-art of cold energy storage, release and transport using CO2 double hydrate slurry," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 358(C).
    10. Mei Wang & Fan Zhang & Lang Liu & Guoming Wen & Wanying Ni & Deyang Kong, 2025. "Analysis and Research on the Flow Characteristics of Ice-Containing Filling Slurry Based on the Population Balance Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-20, March.
    11. Zhang, P. & Lv, F.Y., 2015. "A review of the recent advances in superhydrophobic surfaces and the emerging energy-related applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 1068-1087.
    12. Shi, X.J. & Zhang, P., 2013. "A comparative study of different methods for the generation of tetra-n-butyl ammonium bromide clathrate hydrate slurry in a cold storage air-conditioning system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 1393-1402.
    13. Shao, Jingjing & Darkwa, Jo & Kokogiannakis, Georgios, 2016. "Development of a novel phase change material emulsion for cooling systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(P1), pages 509-516.
    14. Giro-Paloma, Jessica & Barreneche, Camila & Martínez, Mònica & Šumiga, Boštjan & Cabeza, Luisa F. & Fernández, A. Inés, 2015. "Comparison of phase change slurries: Physicochemical and thermal properties," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 223-227.
    15. Park, Joon Ho & Park, Jungjoon & Lee, Jae Won & Kang, Yong Tae, 2023. "Progress in CO2 hydrate formation and feasibility analysis for cold thermal energy harvesting application," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    16. He, Tianbiao & Chong, Zheng Rong & Zheng, Junjie & Ju, Yonglin & Linga, Praveen, 2019. "LNG cold energy utilization: Prospects and challenges," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 557-568.
    17. Belusko, M. & Sheoran, S. & Bruno, F., 2015. "Effectiveness of direct contact PCM thermal storage with a gas as the heat transfer fluid," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 748-757.
    18. Tay, N.H.S. & Liu, M. & Belusko, M. & Bruno, F., 2017. "Review on transportable phase change material in thermal energy storage systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 264-277.
    19. Giro-Paloma, Jessica & Martínez, Mònica & Cabeza, Luisa F. & Fernández, A. Inés, 2016. "Types, methods, techniques, and applications for microencapsulated phase change materials (MPCM): A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 1059-1075.
    20. Ma, F. & Zhang, P. & Shi, X.J., 2018. "Investigation of thermo-fluidic performance of phase change material slurry and energy transport characteristics," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C), pages 643-654.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:342:y:2026:i:c:s0360544225053320. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.