Volume 6: Innovative Solutions for Energy Transitions: Part V

Real-Time Visual and Quantitative Investigation on Melting Characteristics in Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage System Infused with Partial Fins Varun Joshi*, Akhil KV, Manish K. Rathod

Abstract

A present experimental study demonstrates the visual characteristics of the liquid-solid interface during the melting process in the Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage System (LHTES) system. The instantaneous morphology of liquid-solid interface and temperature are directly obtained at the different locations in the enclosure when heated at an isothermal temperature condition. The visualization of the phase front and temperature field shows the significance of fins to alleviate the melting phenomenon by the formation of thermal plumes above the top surface of the fins. The role of natural convective transport as a governing mechanism for the phase change process in the partial assisted enclosure is also discussed.

Keywords Latent heat thermal energy storage system, partial fins, liquid-solid interface morphology