Analysis of conduction mode in cold energy storage using a tank filled with nanomaterial

Abstract

The intensification of freezing rates through the incorporation of nano-sized powders and fins through a cold storage unit was examined. The Galerkin method with special meshing was utilized to solve equations, which were based on the supposition of conduction mode dominance. Additives of varying diameters (dp) and three different concentration levels (ϕ) were implemented. The findings are presented through ice front visualization, contour plots, and scalar curves. The computational code demonstrated high accuracy during the validation phase. The results reveal that as the dp increases, the solidification time initially drops by approximately 20 %, then subsequently increases by about 49.45 %. The optimal solidification time of 2951.17 s was achieved with medium-sized powders. Furthermore, an intensification in (ϕ) leads to a significant decrement in freezing time by about 41.43 %, with the most pronounced effect observed for nano-powders with dp = 40 nm.

Keywords

• Freezing process
• NEPCM
• Unsteady phenomena
• Mesh adaption
• Galerkin method