Thermal analysis of transient laminar flow past an in-line cylinders array containing phase change material

Abstract

Transient laminar flow past an in-line cylinders array containing phase change material (PCM) is simulated using the finite-element method. The problem of the PCM in the cylinders and transient forced convection heat transfer simulates the thermal behaviour of an energy storage system. A parametric study of heat exchanges between the PCM and flow (expressed by the Nusselt number) is reported for Reynolds numbers between 125 and 1000. The pitch to diameter ratios (PDRs) are varied and the Prandtl number is fixed at 0.71. The PCM melting time is predicted for the examined range of Reynolds numbers and PDRs. Plots of the velocity flow field and isotherms are presented. Results are compared favourably with published numerical results. The results indicated that the Reynolds number has a significant effect on the PCM melting time, whereas the PDR has an insignificant effect.