Effect of using external vertical fins in phase change material modules for domestic hot water tanks
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Date
2006
Authors
Castell, Albert
Solé Cutrona, Cristian
Medrano Martorell, Marc
Roca Enrich, Joan
García, Daniel
Cabeza, Luisa F.
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Abstract
The effect of using external vertical fins in Phase
Change Materials (PCM) modules to improve the
natural convection coefficient in water is studied in
this paper.
The use of PCM in a water tank working with a solar
system is able to store a lot of energy, but it is
necessary to transfer this energy to the water during
demand.
Optimization of the natural convection to the water
is of great importance for the heat transfer. External
fins increase the heat transfer surface and the heat
transfer coefficient changes.
Experimental work was carried out to determine
natural convection heat transfer coefficients for
PCM modules with two different external vertical fin
geometries. Results were presented as a
temperature variation over time of the PCM and the
water, and the heat transfer coefficient as a function
of the temperature difference for different fins.
These results were used to validate a simulation
code to determine the behaviour of the system
using finned PCM modules. The results prove the
technical potential of external fins for heat storage
systems using PCM.
The experimental results were used to determine
different correlations for Nusselt number as a
function of different dimensionless numbers.
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Renewable Energy & Power Quality Journal, 2006, vol.1, núm. 4, p. 118-123