Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences

DOI: 10.32604/cmes.2022.017313

ARTICLE

Melting Characteristics of a Phase Change Material Mixed with Nano Particles of Cobalt Oxide Bounded in a Trapezoidal Structure

Waris Ali1, Asif Ali Shaikh1, Feroz Shah1 and Sajjad Hussain2,3,*

1Department of Basic Sciences and Related Studies, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro, Pakistan
2School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
3Department of Mathematics, Govt Postgraduate College Layyah, Punjab, Pakistan
*Corresponding Author: Sajjad Hussain. Email: sajjadgut@gmail.com
Received: 30 April 2021; Accepted: 29 June 2021

Nomenclature

1  Introduction

Thermal energy can be processed in three forms: latent, sensible and chemical. The LHTES technologies with phase modifying substances have shown significant potential for resolving the problem of heat demand vs. supply through intermittent alternative energy methods like solar energy [1,2]. If the heat production exists during the process of transformation, PCMs accumulate a significant amount of heat without growing the temperature. LHTES have been widely used in a variety of technological fields including thermal management for cold storage, heating systems, space heating/cooling, food manufacturing and aircraft defense mechanisms [3,4]. The benefits of LHTES include a higher energy density and a limited collection volume [5]. Recently, Bayon [6] presented a brief review on advanced phase change materials for thermal storage. Furthermore, as opined by Mao et al. [7], the effective expansion of a low-carbon economy has appeared an imperative option for creating a win-win condition of economic implementation and environment conservation across the world. PCMs-type cooling has been promoted as a successful solution because it can capture heat through devices and machines and store it for later application, including heating houses and offices [8]. Basit et al. [9] examined forced convection heat transfer from arrays of prolate particles with aspect ratio of 2.5 and varying volume fractions. PCMs are utilized for a variety of applications due to their multiple benefits such as higher latent heat of fusion, large effective heat, manageable temperature stabilization, and low volume change through process transformation [10,11]. Zsembinszki et al. [12] discussed how to choose apposite PCM for compact energy storage systems implemented in residential buildings, space cooling and heating domestic water. The influence of the high temperature fluid (HTF) inlet conditions on the thermal energy storage (TES) efficiency of a cylindrical shell-and-tube was examined by Avci et al. [13]. Delgado-Diaz et al. [14] studied how to compare compactness and heat transfer performance for latent heat energy storage (LHES) modules with different designs. Li et al. [15] observed the melting of phase change material inside a horizontal annular space using numerically simulation as well as optimizing.

Although there are notable advantages in PCMs working as TES such as their high storage efficiency and moderately constant temperature between charging and discharging are apparent. However, a crucial disadvantage of PCMs’ is their low thermal conductivity which prolongs the melting or solidification time. Farid et al. [16] observed this drawback of PCM in different applications. Many concepts and technologies are proposed as thermal conductivity enhancers (TCE). Two types of improving techniques can be classified. The firstly category of TCE involves establishing extensive surfaces like fins and graphite-compound [17–19] and metal foam [20,21]. The utilization of free-form enhancers, the other approach entails nanoparticles [21,22]. Dhaidan et al. [23] scrutinized the melting of n-octa decane containing CuO nanoparticle solutions in a square enclosed by using the finite element method to resolve the coupled continuity, velocity, and temperature governing equations. Their findings show that enhancing the thermal conductivity of the PCM/nanoparticle component, improving the composite temperature and growing the heat transport rate are all significant impacts of nano particle processing. Atal et al. [24] described numerical simulations to suggest that by using a conduct matrix including PCM material decreased the time taken for a processing cycle and that using metallic foam with lower porosity minimized the cycle even further due to increased total thermal conductivity.

The impact of introducing nano-particles to the PCM has been explored by a number of scientists. Murshed et al. [25] presented in their significant analysis that nanofluids demonstrate significant progress in meeting the cooling requirements of higher heat generated electronic equipment due to their greater thermal properties and various advantages. Afif [26] reviewed the impact of utilizing phase transition materials to reduce the heating/cooling loads for structures through a numerical approach utilizing Comsol technology. It was suggested that displacing particles of strongly conducting materials through PCMs would increase the solidification level of PCMs. Particle diffusion was used in many experiments to improve PCM solidification. He et al. [27] studied thermophysical properties of nanofluids as phase-change material in low temperature storage. Chaichan et al. [28] examined the increasing thermal conductivity of paraffin wax by incorporating nanoparticles and employing two tiny-sized forms of Aluminum particles (Al2O3) and TiO2 particles. Belessiotis et al. [29] provided a form balanced paraffin/SiO2 hybrid PCM for using LHS through chemical absorption process and then utilizing to encapsulate paraffin wax, using much distinct paraffin to SiO2 formulation ratios. Parsazadah et al. [30] studied the effect of nonmaterial on HTF and PCM in a shell and tube TES model for CSP engineering. Fawziea et al. [31] provided the consequences of applying nano to paraffin wax, concluding that paraffin wax responds well to the addition of nano-particles. Motahar et al. [32] assessed the heat distribution properties of n-octadcane solidified with different weights of TiO2 nano-particles in a rectangular framework. Sharma et al. [33] proposed a combination of passively cooling mechanism for building-integrated photovoltaic that included micro fins, PCM, and nanoparticle improved PCM (n-PCM). Yazici et al. [34] measured energy storage efficiency with total melting time of PCM/graphite matrix in a tube-in-shell.

From a close review of related literature, it comes to know that most of the existing studies involve square, rectangle or cylindrical designs. It is noteworthy to consider trapezoidal design for latent heat thermal-energy storage method (LHTEM). This is interesting geometry to fit in buildings, motor vehicles and other gadgets such as computers and mobile phones where energy consumption is on rise. The major objective remains to save available heat energy. Rubitherm-35 (RT–35) is a chemically inert PCM with no super cooling [35]. Cobalt oxide nanoparticles find common applications such as solar energy absorbers and have improved thermal conductivity.

2  Physical Model

A trapezoidal box of aluminum with parallel sides 150 & 180 mm and of altitude 41.5 mm is considered. The heater dimensions are 150 mm × 42 mm and the heat rate is 48 watts. The remaining boundary is adiabatic. Paraffin (Rubitherm-RT35) is used as PCM. Fig. 1a exhibits empty structure using Solidworks. Fig. 1b presents design geometry in Comsol Multiphysics. The lab set up is portrayed in Fig. 2.

Figure 1: (a) The geometrical designs (b) The comsol geometry

Figure 2: The experimental configuration

3  Governing Equations

The physical properties of PCM are temperature dependent. The volume fraction resulting from phase change and viscous dissipation are negligible. Both the conduction and convection heat transformation take place. The governing equations, by following [36] are:

Continuity equation

∂ρ∂t+∇.(ρU)=0, (1)

Momentum equation

∂(ρU)∂t+∇.(ρUU)=−∇.P+ρg+∇τ+F (2)

Energy equation

∂(ρH)∂t+∇.(ρUH)=∇.(K∇T)+S (3)

The latent heat content signified by the L in the terms of latent heat (LH) of PCM is:

Here β stands for the fluid fraction to be described by [37] as given below:

β=0 if T < Tsolids

β=1 if T > Tliquids

β=T−TsolidsTliquids−Tsolids           if Tsolids<T<Tliquids (4)

The Eqs. (3) and (4) provide iterative solution for temperature.

The mushy region is treated as porous medium for enthalpy-porosity technique.

Porosity is zero for fully solidified region; hence zero velocity is resulted in these regions.

4  Properties of Nano Particles

The doping of paraffin wax with Cobalt oxide Co3O4 nanoparticles has been made to augment the thermal conductivity of PCM. The dissimilarity in solids and fluids temperatures marks the change from solid to fluid phases when PCM melts.

The latent heat, heat capacity and density of nano PCM are identified as [37]:

Lnpcm=(1−ϕ)(ρL)pcmρnpcm (5)

Cpnpcm=ϕ(ρCp)np+(1−ϕ)(ρCp)pcmρnpcm (6)

ρnpcm=ϕρnp+ϕρpcm (7)

The volume fraction of nano particles is ϕ.

The viscosity and thermal conductivity of nano PCM are:

μnpcm=0.983e(12.958ϕ) (8)

Knpcm=Knp+2Kpcm−2(Kpcm−Knp)ϕKnp+2Kpcm+2(Kpcm−Knp)ϕKpcm+5×104βkςϕCρpcmCppcmBTρnpdnpf(T,ϕ) (9)

Physical Properties of cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanoparticles

Density     6.11 g/cm3

Melting Point  895∘C

5  Properties of Paraffin RT 35 (PCM)

The industrial PCM utilized in the investigation was paraffin RT-35, with a phase modifying temperature of about 35∘C. All thermal features (TF) of the RT-35 are obtainable in Table 1. Features for RT-line: -higher heat energy storage capability–thermal storage and release take place at relatively constant temperatures-no super cooling consequence, chemically inert-long life product, with stable efficiency throughout the phase change cycles-melting temperature range between −9∘C and 10∘C.

6  Results and Discussion

Observations for melting of PCM are made after various time intervals. Representative outcomes are described below to understand the conduction convection role for phase change of RT-35 at uniform temperature. The Figs. 3a–3d illustrate the initial melting behavior of the pure PCM after 325 (s). The photograph of the upper observation of the experimental set up in Fig. 3a indicates the starting of melting at the hot bottom side. The melting pattern is more vivid in the colored view from simulation for the same time period as depicted in Fig. 3b. The Fig. 3c delineates the limit of solid PCM and Fig. 3d presents the melting contour. The initial time for melt start is surely lengthy because of low thermal conductivity. After that Figs. 4a–4d to 5a–5d exhibit successive phase transformation of PCM from solid to liquid state after the time intervals 750 (s) and 1500 (s). The melting is slowly increasing whereas the conduction dominates. The photographs are captured after 2500 (s), 3000 (s) and 3750 (s) and exhibited respectively in Figs. 5a–5d, 6a–6d and 7a–7d. In these snaps, the melt processes seems faster and most of the PCM is transformed in to liquid state. Here the convection has developed to join in hand with conduction. Thus the melting seems faster as time passes. Finally, Figs. 8a–8d portray the total melt after 4500 (s). It is to explain that in the beginning, the melting started due to heat conduction which was stronger at the bottom side. The thermal conduction also expanded gradually due to other sides of the trapezium. With the passage of time the thermal convection is identified to play its role and the melting of solid PCM is continued till total melt is yielded after sufficient time length of 4500 (s). It is to mention that the temperature of liquid form of PCM remained almost close to a constant value during this time period and a large amount of heat energy is captured by the PCM mass as latent heat.

Figure 3: PCM melt-front after 325 (s) (a) lab observation (b) colored view from simulation (c) limit of solid PCM (d) melting contour

Figure 4: PCM melt-front after 750 (s) (a) lab observation, (b) colored view from simulation (c) limit of solid PCM (d) melting contour

Figure 5: PCM melt-front after 1500 (s) (a) lab observation, (b) colored view from simulation (c) limit of solid PCM (d) melting contour

Figure 6: PCM melt-front after 2500 (s) (a) lab observation, (b) colored view from simulation (c) limit of solid PCM (d) melting contour

Figure 7: PCM melt-front after 3750 (s) (a) lab observation, (b) colored view from simulation (c) limit of solid PCM (d) melting contour

However, the long time for total melt signifies the low thermal conductivity of PCM as remarked in [23]. Enhancement in thermal conductivity of PCM can be attained by harnessing Comsol environment with mixing of nano entities of cobalt oxide Co3O4 in paraffin PCM that accelerated the melting procedure. Fig. 9 exhibits the starting of melting of PCM till first 150 (s). Figs. 10–12 demonstrate the progressive melting fronts after the time bands of 750 (s), 1500 (s), and 3000 (s). Melting on the top side convinces that convection is dominating. PCM has melted sufficiently near the boundaries due to conduction. The early initiation of melting and notable short time for total melt of the PCM with extension of nano entities convinced that procedure for improvement of thermal conduction is effective for early charging of the PCM thermal energy storage design.

Figure 8: PCM melt-front after 4500 (s) (a) lab observation, (b) colored view from simulation (c) limit of solid PCM (d) melting contour

7  Graphical Representation

This section presents snapshots and computational graphical patterns for phase transformation of the bounded PCM for various time lapses as explained in Section 6 above. Each of the Figs. 1–8, from initiation of melting to total melt of pure PCM consists of four sketches where Part (a) depicts photograph of lab experiment, Part (b) pertains to Comsol simulation, Part (c) exhibit limit of remaining solid PCM and Part (d) delineates melting contour. In Figs. 9–12, the fast melting output of the PCM mixed with nanomaterial for various time periods is exhibited in Part (a)’s for solid fraction and in Part (b)’s for simulated outcome of melt front.

Figure 9: Melting of wax with nano particles after 150 (s) (a) limit of solid PCM (b) colored view from simulation

Figure 10: Melting of wax with nano particles after 750 (s) (a) limit of solid PCM (b) colored view from simulation

Figure 11: Melting of wax with nano particles after 1500 (s) (a) limit of solid PCM (b) colored view from simulation

Figure 12: Melting of wax with nano particles after 3000 (s) (a) limit of solid PCM (b) colored view from simulation

8  Conclusion

A thermal energy storage device in trapezoidal shape is studied by using RT-35 as phase change material (PCM). Three different cases for thermal conductivity are considered for PCM only and PCM with nano particles inclusion. The melting of PCM continued over a considerable time length for a close to uniform temperature. However, the charging time for thermal conductivity enhanced case is notably shorter than that for the pure PCM case. The time duration for total melt front in case of PCM is noted to be 4500 (s) and it is 3000 (s) for the case of nano entity mix. There seemed a 33% less time length for phase transform from solid to liquids form when nano particles are mixed in PCM. In the meanwhile, sufficient amount of heat energy is captured as latent heat. The potential use of PCMs as latent storage media covers renewable energy as well as temperature control of electronic devices and buildings. There is serious short coming in this research field to avail efficient PCMs and effective characteristics of LHS. The extension to this study will address fin augmentation and nano inclusion of PCM melting. Further solidification cycles can be managed and forced convection for a range of Nusselt number will contribute to desired thermal transportation.

Funding Statement: The authors received no specific funding for this study.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to report regarding the present study.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.