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Enhancing Solar Thermal Energy Storage via Torsionally Modified TPMS Structures Embedded in Sodium Acetate Trihydrate

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  • Martin Beer

    (Institute of Earth Sources, Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Process Technologies and Geotechnology, Technical University of Košice, Letná 9, 042 00 Košice, Slovakia)

  • Radim Rybár

    (Institute of Earth Sources, Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Process Technologies and Geotechnology, Technical University of Košice, Letná 9, 042 00 Košice, Slovakia)

Abstract

This study focuses on the numerical analysis of the impact of geometric modifications of sheet-gyroid structures on heat transfer in thermal energy storage systems utilizing sodium acetate trihydrate as a phase change material. The aim was to enhance the thermal conductivity of SAT, which is inherently low in the solid phase, by embedding a thermally conductive metallic structure made of aluminum alloy 6061. The simulations compared four gyroid configurations with different degrees of torsional deformation (0°, 90°, 180°, and 360°) alongside a reference model without any structure. Using numerical analysis, the study evaluated the time required to heat the entire volume of SAT above its phase transition temperature (58 °C) as well as the spatial distribution of the temperature field. The results demonstrate that all gyroid configurations significantly reduced the charging time compared with the reference case, with the highest efficiency achieved by the 360° twisted structure. Temperature maps revealed a more uniform thermal distribution within the phase change material and a higher heat flux into the volume. These findings highlight the strong potential of TPMS-based structures for improving the performance of latent heat thermal energy storage systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Beer & Radim Rybár, 2025. "Enhancing Solar Thermal Energy Storage via Torsionally Modified TPMS Structures Embedded in Sodium Acetate Trihydrate," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-17, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:13:p:3234-:d:1683622
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Morena Falcone & Danish Rehman & Matteo Dongellini & Claudia Naldi & Beatrice Pulvirenti & Gian Luca Morini, 2022. "Experimental Investigation on Latent Thermal Energy Storages (LTESs) Based on Pure and Copper-Foam-Loaded PCMs," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-13, July.
    2. Yang, Haibin & Bao, Xiaohua & Cui, Hongzhi & Lo, Tommy Y. & Chen, Xiangsheng, 2022. "Optimization of supercooling, thermal conductivity, photothermal conversion, and phase change temperature of sodium acetate trihydrate for thermal energy storage applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PA).
    3. Sharma, Amrita & Raaj, Ridhi V. & Singh, Sarvjeet & Kothadia, Hardik, 2025. "Inducing and controlling supercooling in industrial-grade sodium acetate trihydrate for long-term PCM based thermal energy storage system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 325(C).
    4. Gang Liu & Yuanji Li & Pan Wei & Tian Xiao & Xiangzhao Meng & Xiaohu Yang, 2022. "Thermo-Economic Assessments on a Heat Storage Tank Filled with Graded Metal Foam," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-16, September.
    5. Faisal Hassan & Abid Hussain & Furqan Jamil & Adeel Arshad & Hafiz Muhammad Ali, 2022. "Passive Cooling Analysis of an Electronic Chipset Using Nanoparticles and Metal-Foam Composite PCM: An Experimental Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-27, November.
    6. Jie Zhang & Xiaoqing Yang, 2025. "Numerical Simulation of Convective Heat Transfer in Gyroid, Diamond, and Primitive Microstructures Using Water as the Working Fluid," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-27, March.
    7. Martin Beer & Radim Rybár, 2024. "Numerical Study of Fluid Flow in a Gyroid-Shaped Heat Transfer Element," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-19, May.
    8. Martin Beer & Radim Rybár, 2025. "Numerical Investigation of Sheet-Gyroid Structure Modifications for Mixing Application in Renewable Energy Technologies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-18, April.
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