IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v227y2024ics0960148124006025.html

Numerical investigation and optimization of the melting performance of latent heat thermal energy storage unit strengthened by graded metal foam and mechanical rotation

Author

Listed:
  • Yang, Chao
  • Xu, Xing-Rong
  • Bake, Maitiniyazi
  • Wu, Chun-Mei
  • Li, You-Rong
  • Zheng, Zhang-Jing
  • Yu, Jia-Jia

Abstract

In this paper, a combined passive graded metal foam and active mechanical rotation strategy is proposed to simultaneously solve the problem of slow melting rate and non-uniform phase change problem of the latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) technology. The enthalpy-porosity method and fixed grid structure are employed to numerically investigate the effects of porosity range, the number of graded layers, and the rotational angular velocity. Moreover, the response surface method (RSM) is further selected to optimize the structural parameters and obtain the function of melting performance and various factors. The result shows that there is an optimal porosity range and the total melting time decreases first and then increases with the increase of porosity range. When the porosity range is 12 % and the graded layer is three, it can shorten the melting time by 35.54 % and increase the thermal energy storage rate (TESR) by 51.57 %. In addition, the melting performance is gradually improved as the number of graded layers increases. The strengthening effect of graded metal foam with just four layers is close to that of the maximum layers considered in this paper. The trend of the influence of rotation speed on the melting performance of the LHTES unit is consistent with the porosity range, indicating the existence of the optimal rotational speed. The RSM optimization structure, with a 14.969 % porosity range, 5-layer graded number, and 2.267 rpm rotational speed, shortens the melting time by 42.42 % and increases the TESR by 62.75 % compared with the stationary case with uniform metal foam. This work verifies the effectiveness of active rotation coupling with passive graded porous structures, which could provide a new strengthening approach to enhance LHTES.

Suggested Citation

  • Yang, Chao & Xu, Xing-Rong & Bake, Maitiniyazi & Wu, Chun-Mei & Li, You-Rong & Zheng, Zhang-Jing & Yu, Jia-Jia, 2024. "Numerical investigation and optimization of the melting performance of latent heat thermal energy storage unit strengthened by graded metal foam and mechanical rotation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:227:y:2024:i:c:s0960148124006025
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2024.120537
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148124006025
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2024.120537?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. Kurnia, Jundika C. & Sasmito, Agus P., 2018. "Numerical investigation of heat transfer performance of a rotating latent heat thermal energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C), pages 542-554.
    2. Zheng, Zhang-Jing & Yang, Chao & Xu, Yang & Cai, Xiao, 2021. "Effect of metal foam with two-dimensional porosity gradient on melting behavior in a rectangular cavity," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 802-815.
    3. Huang, Xinyu & Li, Fangfei & Li, Yuanji & Meng, Xiangzhao & Yang, Xiaohu & Sundén, Bengt, 2023. "Optimization of melting performance of a heat storage tank under rotation conditions: Based on taguchi design and response surface method," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
    4. Hu, Nan & Li, Zi-Rui & Xu, Zhe-Wen & Fan, Li-Wu, 2022. "Rapid charging for latent heat thermal energy storage: A state-of-the-art review of close-contact melting," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    5. Zheng, Zhang-Jing & Xu, Yang & Li, Ming-Jia, 2018. "Eccentricity optimization of a horizontal shell-and-tube latent-heat thermal energy storage unit based on melting and melting-solidifying performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 447-454.
    6. Maruoka, Nobuhiro & Tsutsumi, Taichi & Ito, Akihisa & Hayasaka, Miho & Nogami, Hiroshi, 2020. "Heat release characteristics of a latent heat storage heat exchanger by scraping the solidified phase change material layer," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    7. Zhang, Shengqi & Pu, Liang & Mancin, Simone & Dai, Minghao & Xu, Lingling, 2022. "Role of partial and gradient filling strategies of copper foam on latent thermal energy storage: An experimental study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    8. Lin, Yuancheng & Chong, Chin Hao & Ma, Linwei & Li, Zheng & Ni, Weidou, 2022. "Quantification of waste heat potential in China: A top-down Societal Waste Heat Accounting Model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(PB).
    9. Wang, Zhifeng & Wu, Jiani & Lei, Dongqiang & Liu, Hong & Li, Jinping & Wu, Zhiyong, 2020. "Experimental study on latent thermal energy storage system with gradient porosity copper foam for mid-temperature solar energy application," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    10. Xu, Yang & Li, Ming-Jia & Zheng, Zhang-Jing & Xue, Xiao-Dai, 2018. "Melting performance enhancement of phase change material by a limited amount of metal foam: Configurational optimization and economic assessment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 868-880.
    11. Aramesh, M. & Shabani, B., 2022. "Metal foam-phase change material composites for thermal energy storage: A review of performance parameters," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    12. Zheng, Zhang-Jing & Cai, Xiao & Yang, Chao & Xu, Yang, 2022. "Improving the solidification performance of a latent heat thermal energy storage unit using arrow-shaped fins obtained by an innovative fast optimization algorithm," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 566-577.
    13. Tian, Y. & Zhao, C.Y., 2011. "A numerical investigation of heat transfer in phase change materials (PCMs) embedded in porous metals," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(9), pages 5539-5546.
    14. Xu, Yang & Ren, Qinlong & Zheng, Zhang-Jing & He, Ya-Ling, 2017. "Evaluation and optimization of melting performance for a latent heat thermal energy storage unit partially filled with porous media," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 84-95.
    15. Buonomo, Bernardo & Manca, Oronzio & Nardini, Sergio & Plomitallo, Renato Elpidio, 2022. "Numerical study on latent heat thermal energy storage system with PCM partially filled with aluminum foam in local thermal equilibrium," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 1368-1380.
    16. Huang, Xinyu & Li, Fangfei & Xiao, Tian & Guo, Junfei & Wang, Fan & Gao, Xinyu & Yang, Xiaohu & He, Ya-Ling, 2023. "Investigation and optimization of solidification performance of a triplex-tube latent heat thermal energy storage system by rotational mechanism," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 331(C).
    17. Liu, Zhenyu & Yao, Yuanpeng & Wu, Huiying, 2013. "Numerical modeling for solid–liquid phase change phenomena in porous media: Shell-and-tube type latent heat thermal energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 1222-1232.
    18. Zhang, Shuai & Yan, Yuying, 2023. "Energy, exergy and economic analysis of ceramic foam-enhanced molten salt as phase change material for medium- and high-temperature thermal energy storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(PA).
    19. Huang, Sheng & Lu, Jun & Li, Yongcai, 2022. "Numerical study on the influence of inclination angle on the melting behaviour of metal foam-PCM latent heat storage units," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PE).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jiang, Ruicheng & Qian, Gao & Li, Zhi & Yu, Xiaoli & Lu, Yiji, 2024. "Progress and challenges of latent thermal energy storage through external field-dependent heat transfer enhancement methods," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    2. Guo, Junfei & Gao, Xinyu & Gao, Jiayi & Xie, Yuan & Yang, Xiaohu & He, Ya-Ling, 2026. "Thermal analysis and performance prediction on ultrasonic-assisted phase change thermal management device," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 402(PB).
    3. Huang, Xinyu & Liu, Zemin & Gao, Xinyu & Xie, Yuan & Gao, Jiayi & Yang, Xiaohu, 2025. "Application of actively enhanced solar phase change heat storage system in building heating: A numerical and statistical optimization study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    4. Huang, Xinyu & Liu, Zemin & Lu, Liu & Wang, Qihui & Li, Bo & Yang, Xiaohu & Li, Hailong, 2025. "Effect of gradient metal foam on phase change heat storage process under constant rotation condition: A numerical study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    5. Yang, Chao & Wang, Xu-Ge & Xu, Yuan & Xu, Xing-Rong & Bake, Maitiniyazi & Wu, Chun-Mei & Li, You-Rong & Yu, Jia-Jia, 2025. "Melting performance optimization and economic evaluation in rotating thermal energy storage system with partially filled porous structure," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).

    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, Chao & Wang, Xu-Ge & Xu, Yuan & Xu, Xing-Rong & Bake, Maitiniyazi & Wu, Chun-Mei & Li, You-Rong & Yu, Jia-Jia, 2025. "Melting performance optimization and economic evaluation in rotating thermal energy storage system with partially filled porous structure," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
    2. Hou, Yujie & Chen, Hua & Liu, Xiuli, 2022. "Experimental study on the effect of partial filling of copper foam on heat storage of paraffin-based PCM," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 561-571.
    3. Yang Xu & Hang Yin & Chen He & Yong Wei & Ming Cui & Zhang-Jing Zheng, 2022. "Structure Optimization of Longitudinal Rectangular Fins to Improve the Melting Performance of Phase Change Materials through Genetic Algorithm," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-21, December.
    4. Zheng, Zhang-Jing & Yang, Chao & Xu, Yang & Cai, Xiao, 2021. "Effect of metal foam with two-dimensional porosity gradient on melting behavior in a rectangular cavity," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 802-815.
    5. Jiang, Ruicheng & Qian, Gao & Li, Zhi & Yu, Xiaoli & Lu, Yiji, 2024. "Progress and challenges of latent thermal energy storage through external field-dependent heat transfer enhancement methods," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    6. Kumar, Ashish & Saha, Sandip K., 2020. "Experimental and numerical study of latent heat thermal energy storage with high porosity metal matrix under intermittent heat loads," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    7. Zhang, Shuai & Feng, Daili & Shi, Lei & Wang, Li & Jin, Yingai & Tian, Limei & Li, Ziyuan & Wang, Guoyong & Zhao, Lei & Yan, Yuying, 2021. "A review of phase change heat transfer in shape-stabilized phase change materials (ss-PCMs) based on porous supports for thermal energy storage," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    8. Wang, Zhifeng & Wu, Jiani & Lei, Dongqiang & Liu, Hong & Li, Jinping & Wu, Zhiyong, 2020. "Experimental study on latent thermal energy storage system with gradient porosity copper foam for mid-temperature solar energy application," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    9. Ge, Ruihuan & Li, Qi & Li, Chuan & Liu, Qing, 2022. "Evaluation of different melting performance enhancement structures in a shell-and-tube latent heat thermal energy storage system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 829-843.
    10. Xu, Yang & He, Chen & Chen, Yang & Sun, Yu & Yin, Hang & Zheng, Zhang-Jing, 2023. "Experimental and numerical study on the effect of the intelligent memory metal fin on the melting and solidification process of PCM," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    11. Zheng, Zhang-Jing & Cai, Xiao & Yang, Chao & Xu, Yang, 2022. "Improving the solidification performance of a latent heat thermal energy storage unit using arrow-shaped fins obtained by an innovative fast optimization algorithm," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 566-577.
    12. Lu, Shixiang & Li, Yongkang & Guo, Xiaochao & Wang, Fang, 2025. "Characteristic analysis of annular plate heat exchanger based phase change thermal storage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    13. Zeng, Kuo & Gao, Junjie & Lu, Yongwen & Zuo, Hongyang & Chi, Bowen & Fang, Zheyu & Li, Jun & Xu, Huaqian & Li, Beiyang & Yang, Haiping & Chen, Hanping, 2024. "Comprehensive enhancement of melting-solidifying process in latent heat storage based on eccentric fin-foam combination," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    14. Mahdi, Jasim M. & Mohammed, Hayder I. & Hashim, Emad T. & Talebizadehsardari, Pouyan & Nsofor, Emmanuel C., 2020. "Solidification enhancement with multiple PCMs, cascaded metal foam and nanoparticles in the shell-and-tube energy storage system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    15. Sardari, Pouyan Talebizadeh & Mohammed, Hayder I. & Giddings, Donald & walker, Gavin S. & Gillott, Mark & Grant, David, 2019. "Numerical study of a multiple-segment metal foam-PCM latent heat storage unit: Effect of porosity, pore density and location of heat source," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    16. Huang, Xinyu & Du, Zhao & Li, Yuanji & Li, Ze & Yang, Xiaohu & Li, Ming-Jia, 2024. "Optimal design on fin-metal foam hybrid structure for melting and solidification phase change storage: An experimental and numerical study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 302(C).
    17. Huang, Xinyu & Li, Fangfei & Liu, Zhengguang & Gao, Xinyu & Yang, Xiaohu & Yan, Jinyue, 2023. "Design and optimization of a novel phase change photovoltaic thermal utilization structure for building envelope," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    18. Fang, Zheyu & Zeng, Kuo & Xu, Huaqian & Zuo, Hongyang & Lu, Yongwen & Chi, Bowen & Sheng, Chengmin & Wang, Xianhua & Yang, Haiping & Chen, Hanping, 2025. "Investigation of metal foam enhancement under multilayer interaction for large-scale latent heat storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 328(C).
    19. Sardari, Pouyan Talebizadeh & Giddings, Donald & Grant, David & Gillott, Mark & Walker, Gavin S., 2020. "Discharge of a composite metal foam/phase change material to air heat exchanger for a domestic thermal storage unit," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 987-1001.
    20. GaneshKumar, Poongavanam & Praveen Kumar, G. & Sivalingam, Vinothkumar & Divya, S. & Oh, Tae Hwan, 2025. "Revolutionizing microelectronics cooling: Thermal management with nano-enhanced PCMs, hybrid cooling, conductive foams, and porous structures," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    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:renene:v:227:y:2024:i:c:s0960148124006025. 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/renewable-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.