2023 AIChE Annual Meeting
(392e) Mathematical Model of Energy Storage By High Temperature Microencapsulated Phase Change Material
A finite element analysis model of heat transfer in a phase change material pushing towards phase transition has been developed using COMSOL Multiphysics®. In this model, temperatures at different time, location, and PCM phase (solid or liquid) inside the MEPCM of an alumina shell have been calculated. Temperatures of MEPCM at solid and liquid phases were calculated using Fourierâs law of heat conduction. Temperature during solid/liquid phase transition (melting point) was calculated numerically using the general concept of first order phase transition by absorbing/releasing fixed amount of heat at a constant temperature. Temperature and composition dependent thermophysical and thermodynamic properties of the PCM and alumina reported in literatures were used in this model. Three different heating/cooling conditions were investigated in this work: i) the outermost surface of the MEPCM is maintained at a constant temperature; ii) a constant heat flux is applied on the MEPCM shell surface, and iii) a convection heat transfer condition is used for heat exchange between environment and MEPCMs. The calculated results are analyzed to study the phase change phenomenon of MEPCM which reflects the overall performance of MEPCM heat storage during charging and discharging process.