Twisted-fin parametric study to enhance the solidification performance of phase-change material in a shell-and-tube latent heat thermal energy storage system

Abstract Phase change material (PCM) is considered as one of the most effective thermal energy storage (TES) systems to balance supply and demand. A key challenge in designing efficient PCM-based TES lies enhancement heat transmission during phase transition. This study numerically examines privilege employing twisted-fin arrays inside a shell-and-tube latent unit improve solidification performance. The presence twisted fins contributes dominating role conduction by their curved shapes, which restricts natural convection but largely aids overall heat-transfer process solidification. heat-discharge rate configuration increased ∼14 ∼55% compared straight fin no configurations—leading reduction duration ∼13 ∼35%, respectively. front at various times has also been assessed through detailed parametric over height, pitch number, thickness. Over range values assumed, height dominant parameter – increasing heat-retrieval from 10.0 11.4 W decreasing discharge time above 3600 2880 s varying 2.5 7.5 mm.