Numerical study on latent heat thermal energy storage with phase change material and metal foam in shell and corrugated tube with external heat losses

Abstract In the present work, a numerical investigation of Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage system (LHTESs) is performed on vertical shell and tube geometry, made porous medium filled with phase change material (PCM). The LHTESs cylinder corrugated inner surface at constant temperature above PCM melting temperature; external there are heat losses to outside top bottom surfaces adiabatic. used pure paraffin wax, metal foam, instead, aluminum. process modelled enthalpy-porosity theory, while Local Non-Equilibrium (LTNE) Darcy-Forchheimer models adopted analyse transfer between foam. solutions governing equations computed Ansys-Fluent commercial code. survey considers different conductivity variations wall distinct geometric parameters, wavelengths wave amplitudes. results simulations, concerning charging phase, reported as function time compared in terms time, enthalpy stored, energy loss.