The characteristics of heat transfer in plate phase change energy storage unit

In order to study the heat transfer characteristics of the plate-type phase change energy storage unit, the Fluent Enthalpy method was used to simulate the heat storage and release process of the plate phase change materials (PCM) energy storage unit. The simulation results show that the main heat transfer zone will advance along the direction of the flat plate (air flow direction), and the speed of the main heat transfer zone is proportional to the air velocity with the continuous heat transfer process. In heat storage, the speed of the main heat transfer zone will accelerate with the increase of air velocities; while in the heat release process, the main heat transfer zone will accelerate with the increase of air velocities. Meanwhile, the liquid phase ratio of PCM material is also changing continuously which increases with time and is affected by the liquefaction or solidification speed. The faster the liquefaction and solidification speed are, the faster it will change. As the fluid inlet velocity increases, the heat storage exothermic efficiency also increases as the heat transfer fluid inlet velocity increases. Overall, the total heat transfer rate is gradually reduced compared with the initial heat transfer, and then tends to be consistent with the temperature of the heat transfer fluid.