Finite time thermodynamics analysis and research of pulsating heat pipe cold storage device

Abstract

Phase change energy storage technology can effectively solve the energy mismatch in space and time. There are many disadvantages of phase change materials (PCMs), such as high supercooling, phase separation and poor heat transfer performance. As a new type of heat exchange structure, pulsating heat pipe has the advantages of simple structure, high heat transfer coefficient and good economic behavior. The system efficiency can be greatly improved by using pulsating heat pipe combined with cold storage technology. A set of pulsating heat pipe type cold storage device is developed, the finite time thermodynamic analysis is carried out, and the correlation between heat pipe efficiency and power is established. The three-dimensional physical model of pulsating heat pipe is simulated and verified by experiments. The experimental results show that in the cold storage stage, with the increase of the filling rate, the greater the pressure is, the better the heat transfer effect is; in the cold release stage, with the decrease of the filling rate, the smaller the pressure is, the better the heat transfer effect is.

Keywords

• Phase change energy storage
• Pulsating heat pipe
• Finite time thermodynamics
• Liquid filling rate