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Comparative Numerical Analysis of Melting Enhancement in a Triplex Tube Latent Heat Storage Unit Using Rectangular Fins and Copper Nanoparticles

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Abstract:

This study presents a computational investigation of melting enhancement in a triplex tube heat exchanger TTHX with rectangular fins considering RT-82 as the phase change material (PCM) and copper as nanoenhanced PCM (NEPCM). The number of fins was increased from 8 to 12, and copper nanoparticles were dispersed at a volume fraction of 2% and 3% to assess their effect on thermal energy storage TES. The evolution of the solid–liquid interface was simulated using the enthalpy–porosity formulation, and the system performance was evaluated in terms of liquid fraction, total melting time, and melting efficiency, defined as the ratio of latent heat absorbed to the input energy. Raising the number of fins from 8 to 12 reduced melting time by 30% relative to the reference case with eight fins only, indicating enhanced heat conduction and faster initial melting. The use of copper nanopcm with 3 vol% further cuts melting times by 55% compared with the same reference case due to the increase in effective thermal conductivity. Hence, in brief, moderate fin numbers coupled with 3 vol% copper rendered the fastest melting rates and highest storage efficiencies among those tested.

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Periodical:

Defect and Diffusion Forum (Volume 453)

Pages:

241-256

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4028/p-Yvca0s

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Online since:

July 2026

Authors:

Aymen Abdellah Lasri*, Fayçal Bouzit, Mohamed Bouzit

Keywords:

Fins, Melting Efficiency, Nanoparticles, Phase Change Materials (PCMs), Thermal Conductivity

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© 2026 Trans Tech Publications Ltd. All Rights Reserved

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* - Corresponding Author

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