IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v18y2025i15p4199-d1719607.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Comparison of Triple-Tube Heat Exchanger and Spherical Ice Balls for Energy Storage Performance: A Numerical Study

Author

Listed:
  • Gülşah Karaca Dolgun

    (Department of Energy Systems Engineering, Technology Faculty, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Kötekli, 48000 Menteşe, Türkiye)

Abstract

Ice energy storage systems have gained significant attention as sustainable solutions for energy management, particularly in applications with fluctuating energy demands. This study aims to compare two different designs, a triple-tube heat exchanger (TTHE) and spherical ice balls, the latter being the most widely used traditional design in the industry. The TTHE design was first analyzed theoretically, then optimized using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, and validated by the literature. Finally, it was compared with spherical ice balls under identical conditions. The analyses were conducted for an ice storage volume of 1000 kg, with the complete solidification process designed to occur within 8 h. The results indicate that the TTHE reduced solidification time by 25% while simultaneously increasing energy storage by 8%. This study contributes to the advancement of sustainable energy technologies by providing a comparative analysis of spherical ice balls and triple-tube heat exchangers for optimizing ice storage systems. The implementation of a TTHE for thermal storage can lower energy costs, mitigate peak demand, and address the intermittency challenges associated with renewable energy sources.

Suggested Citation

  • Gülşah Karaca Dolgun, 2025. "Comparison of Triple-Tube Heat Exchanger and Spherical Ice Balls for Energy Storage Performance: A Numerical Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-22, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:15:p:4199-:d:1719607
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/15/4199/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/15/4199/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xiaoyu Xu & Chun Chang & Xinxin Guo & Mingzhi Zhao, 2023. "Experimental and Numerical Study of the Ice Storage Process and Material Properties of Ice Storage Coils," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-18, July.
    2. Yan, Peiliang & Fan, Weijun & Yang, Yan & Ding, Hongbing & Arshad, Adeel & Wen, Chuang, 2022. "Performance enhancement of phase change materials in triplex-tube latent heat energy storage system using novel fin configurations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 327(C).
    3. Chen, Xiaoming & Zhang, Quan & Zhai, Zhiqiang John & Ma, Xiaowei, 2019. "Potential of ventilation systems with thermal energy storage using PCMs applied to air conditioned buildings," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 39-53.
    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. Yan, Peiliang & Fan, Weijun & Han, Yu & Ding, Hongbing & Wen, Chuang & Elbarghthi, Anas F.A. & Yang, Yan, 2023. "Leaf-vein bionic fin configurations for enhanced thermal energy storage performance of phase change materials in smart heating and cooling systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 346(C).
    2. Ljungdahl, V. & Taha, K. & Dallaire, J. & Kieseritzky, E. & Pawelz, F. & Jradi, M. & Veje, C., 2021. "Phase change material based ventilation module - Numerical study and experimental validation of serial design," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    3. Tavakoli, Ali & Hashemi, Javad & Najafian, Mahyar & Ebrahimi, Amin, 2023. "Physics-based modelling and data-driven optimisation of a latent heat thermal energy storage system with corrugated fins," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    4. 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).
    5. Nikkerdar, F. & Rahimi, M. & Ranjbar, A.A. & Pakrouh, R. & Bahrampoury, R., 2021. "Solar assisted thermal storage system for free heating applications in moderate climates: A case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    6. Yan, Tian & Xu, Xinhua & Gao, Jiajia & Luo, Yongqiang & Yu, Jinghua, 2020. "Performance evaluation of a PCM-embedded wall integrated with a nocturnal sky radiator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
    7. Xiaofei Huang & Junwei Yan & Xuan Zhou & Yixin Wu & Shichen Hu, 2023. "Cooling Technologies for Internet Data Center in China: Principle, Energy Efficiency, and Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-31, October.
    8. Gohar Gholamibozanjani & Mohammed Farid, 2021. "A Critical Review on the Control Strategies Applied to PCM-Enhanced Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-39, March.
    9. Palmer, Ben & Arshad, Adeel & Yang, Yan & Wen, Chuang, 2023. "Energy storage performance improvement of phase change materials-based triplex-tube heat exchanger (TTHX) using liquid–solid interface-informed fin configurations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 333(C).
    10. Kirincic, Mateo & Trp, Anica & Lenic, Kristian & Batista, Josip, 2024. "Latent thermal energy storage performance enhancement through optimization of geometry parameters," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 365(C).
    11. Sławomir Kurpaska & Katarzyna Wolny-Koładka & Mateusz Malinowski & Klaudia Tomaszek & Hubert Latała, 2023. "Thermal-Mass and Microbiological Analysis of Forced Air Flow through the Stone Heat Accumulator Bed," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-22, May.
    12. Chang, Chun & Xu, Xiaoyu & Guo, Xinxin & Yu, Rong & Rasakhodzhaev, Bakhramzhan & Bao, Daorina & Zhao, Mingzhi, 2024. "Experimental and numerical study during the solidification process of a vertical and horizontal coiled ice storage system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    13. Bienvenido-Huertas, David & Sánchez-García, Daniel & Rubio-Bellido, Carlos, 2020. "Analysing natural ventilation to reduce the cooling energy consumption and the fuel poverty of social dwellings in coastal zones," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    14. Zhang, Ji & Cao, Zhi & Huang, Sheng & Huang, Xiaohui & Han, Yu & Wen, Chuang & Honoré Walther, Jens & Yang, Yan, 2023. "Solidification performance improvement of phase change materials for latent heat thermal energy storage using novel branch-structured fins and nanoparticles," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 342(C).
    15. Qu, Yue & Chen, Jiayu & Liu, Lifang & Xu, Tao & Wu, Huijun & Zhou, Xiaoqing, 2020. "Study on properties of phase change foam concrete block mixed with paraffin / fumed silica composite phase change material," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 1127-1135.
    16. Yan, Peiliang & Wen, Chuang & Ding, Hongbing & Wang, Xuehui & Yang, Yan, 2025. "The potential of machine learning to predict melting response time of phase change materials in triplex-tube latent thermal energy storage systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 390(C).
    17. Bashiri Rezaie, Ali & Montazer, Majid, 2019. "One-step preparation of magnetically responsive nano CuFe2O4/fatty acids/polyester composite for dynamic thermal energy management applications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 1839-1851.
    18. Amit Kant Kaushik & Mohammed Arif & Matt M. G. Syal & Muhammad Qasim Rana & Olugbenga Timo Oladinrin & Ahlam Ammar Sharif & Ala’a Saleh Alshdiefat, 2022. "Effect of Indoor Environment on Occupant Air Comfort and Productivity in Office Buildings: A Response Surface Analysis Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-24, November.
    19. Li, Sheng & Gao, Jinshuang & Zhang, Lizhe & Wu, Fan & Zhao, Yazhou & Zhang, Xuejun, 2024. "Numerical study on heat transfer and evaporation vaporization performance of solar assisted heat pump regenerative evaporator based on dual-phase change coupled heat transfer," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    20. Li, Wei & Gao, Zihan & Liu, Shida & Wang, Jing & Zhang, Xu & Zhao, Jun, 2025. "Study on the performance improvement of thermal storage tank by encapsulating PCM in the shape of red blood cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 388(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:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:15:p:4199-:d:1719607. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.