Validation of Experimental Phase Change Material based Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage System Using ANSYS Fluent CFD Simulation

Abstract

Phase Change Materials (PCM)-based thermal energy storage (TES) systems are being used more and more to enhance energy efficiency and facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources. Using paraffin as the PCM, this work creates a numerical reconstruction and validation framework for a spiral-finned shell-and-tube Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage (LHTES) system. The experimentally documented arrangement was converted into a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model utilising the enthalpy-porosity method applied in ANSYS Fluent. Governing equations, numerical assumptions, and validation procedures were systematically reconstructed to establish a physically consistent modelling framework. The effectiveness of thermal enhancement strategies on melting performance was examined using a cross-literature benchmarking analysis of five experiments and five CFD studies. It was discovered that geometrical modifications, such as spiral fins, non-uniform fins, the incorporation of metal foams, and multi-tube designs, are quite effective in enhancing melting and heat transfer characteristics. The developed framework provides a reliable basis for future CFD validation and optimization of fin-enhanced LHTES systems.