EFFECT OF PCM AND METAL FOAM ON THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE OF PARALLEL PLATES

Numerical analysis of the parallel plate channel was performed by using 5.0% by volume water/Fe3O4 and PCM structures with metal foams. Water has been used as a base case to verify the model. Thermal energy storage capacity of parallel plates according to flow time for different flow cases are presented. When water and ferro nanofluid are compared, it provides more energy storage performance in a short time due to the higher convective heat transfer capacity of the nanofluid, and this value is about 12% higher than water under the same conditions. The case of using water and nanofluid as working fluid under the same conditions with PCM application inside the walls was investigated. In this condition, PCM stored thermal energy for a longer period owing to its latent heat energy storage capability during phase transition. In this case, when using water and nanofluid as a working fluid, the nanofluid shows higher energy storage performance under the same conditions. Regardless of any parameter, the maximum energy storage capacity of this parallel plate channel system is calculated as 2.31 MJ. Duration of reaching to highest thermal energy storage capacity of flow at Re=500 was obtained lower than at Re=2000. Adding metal foam to flow medium and inside the walls increases the surface area and heat transfer rate, leading to a faster charging time. Heat accumulation of flow was improved significantly with inserted PCM inside the walls. These choices suggest that the amount of heat accumulation of the walls at Re=2000 is approximately 53% higher than the Re=500 for all cases.