Numerical Simulation of Heat Release in Aluminium-Silicon Phase Change Devices

Abstract

High-temperature thermal energy storage (TES) technologies play a crucial role in mitigating supply-demand imbalances in energy systems. This study investigates the heat release dynamics of an aluminum-silicon phase change material (PCM) within a novel shell-tube TES device through numerical simulation. The research examines the influence of inlet velocity and tube arrangement on solidification time, thermal power, and system utilization rates. Five hypotheses are tested, addressing the correlation between velocity and heat release power, the impact of tube configurations, and efficiency improvements from design modifications. Results indicate an inverse relationship between velocity and solidification time but a reduction in utilization rate. A nonlinear relationship is observed between velocity and thermal power, with an initial positive trend followed by diminishing returns. The five-row PCM arrangement outperforms the triple-row design, demonstrating enhanced heat transfer efficiency. Moreover, strategic design modifications yield notable efficiency improvements. While these findings provide valuable insights for optimizing TES performance, future experimental studies are recommended to validate the simulation results and explore broader operational parameters.