Numerical simulation of a shell-and-tube latent heat thermal energy storage unit

Abstract A theoretical model was developed to predict the transient behavior of a shell-and-tube storage unit with the phase change material (PCM) on the shell side and the heat transfer fluid (HTF) circulating inside the tubes. The multidimensional phase change problem is tackled with an enthalpy-based method coupled to the convective heat transfer from the HTF. The numerical predictions are validated with experimental data. A series of numerical experiments are then undertaken to assess the effects of various thermal and geometric parameters on the heat transfer process and on the behavior of the system. Results show that the shell radius, the mass flow rate, and the inlet temperature of the HTF must be chosen carefully in order to optimize the performance of the unit.