article · Energy
This research evaluates the addition of L-shaped longitudinal fins to rectangular enclosures using phase change materials for thermal energy storage. A three-dimensional numerical model was created using the finite volume method and the enthalpy-porosity approach to assess configurations with zero, one, two, and three fins. Adding three fins provided the fastest thermal response, reducing complete melting time by roughly 86.6 percent compared to the un-finned baseline, decreasing the duration from 11,040 seconds to 1,480 seconds. While the baseline configuration stored 191.5 kilojoules due to its larger material volume, the three-fin design stored 184.42 kilojoules but delivered faster thermal transfer and a mean power output of up to 0.12488 kilowatts. Optimisation through Response Surface Methodology confirmed that adjusting fin count and thickness significantly enhances energy delivery with only a minor loss in total storage capacity.
Phase change materials store heat effectively, but their slow melting rates often limit how quickly they can absorb and release energy. Optimising the internal design with L-shaped fins allows thermal storage systems to charge much faster. This improvement enables more responsive heating and energy delivery systems while retaining almost all of their original energy storage capacity.
The findings can inform the design of phase change material thermal energy storage enclosures, which are useful for equipment manufacturers seeking faster heat absorption. However, because the study is entirely based on three-dimensional numerical simulations and statistical response surface optimisation, the technology remains at an early computational stage. Physical prototyping and experimental testing are necessary before practical implementation in commercial products.
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This study comprehensively investigates the impact of incorporating L-shaped longitudinal fins into a rectangular thermal energy storage (TES) enclosure filled with phase change material (PCM), aiming to enhance melting performance and energy delivery efficiency. A three-dimensional numerical model was developed using the finite volume method coupled with the enthalpy-porosity approach to simulate the phase change process accurately. Four configurations were analyzed, varying from no fins to the inclusion of one, two, and three fins. Case 04, which includes three fins, demonstrated the highest thermal responsiveness, achieving complete melting in just 1480 s a reduction of approximately 86.6 % compared to the baseline Case 01 (11,040 s). Although Case 01 stored the highest total energy (191.5 kJ), this was primarily due to its prolonged melting duration and slightly larger PCM volume. In contrast, the finned cases (particularly Case 04) exhibited slightly lower TES capacities (184.42 kJ) but offered faster energy delivery and superior thermal performance. The novelty of this work lies in systematically optimizing the number and geometry of longitudinal fins within a rectangular PCM enclosure, which has not been previously explored in such detail. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) optimization validated the significance of the numerical model, with strong R 2 values confirming reliability. Optimization plots further indicated that increasing the fin number and optimizing fin thickness effectively reduced melting time and enhanced mean power output. The mean power ( P m ) analysis reinforced these findings, with three-fin configurations achieving up to 0.12488 kW, nearly double the output of single-fin designs. However, a trade-off was observed between rapid melting and marginal TES capacity loss due to reduced PCM volume. Overall, the study confirms that careful design and optimization of fin geometry can significantly improve PCM-based TES systems, offering faster thermal response and enhanced energy delivery with minimal compromise on storage capacity.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.138309
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