Performance prediction of a fin–metal foam–cold thermal energy storage device: Solidification

Latent heat storage technology is a valuable research direction to alleviate the imbalance of energy supply and demand, but its application is limited by the low thermal conductivity of phase change material. In recent years, the fin–foam structure is proven to alleviate this problem. The solidification behavior of the phase change material in this structure should be predicted to promote its engineering application. In this study, a cold thermal energy storage unit with metal foam and straight fins was constructed. On the basis of dimensionless analysis, experimental and numerical methods were used to investigate the structural parameters of straight fin and metal foam on the liquid fraction and effective Nusselt number
(Nu∗). Results showed that the height and spacing of fin are the main factors affecting the solidification rate of phase change material, compared with the porosity, pore density and material of metal foam. When fin height increases from 17 to 57 mm and spacing reduces from 120 to 3 mm, the Nu∗ of the phase change material increases by 1.5 and 12.61 times, respectively. The transient correlation between liquid fraction and Nu∗ of phase change materials is obtained to guide related design.