Outward melting of ice enhanced by Cu nanoparticles inside cylindrical horizontal annulus: Lattice Boltzmann approach

Heat transfer enhancement of water-(Ice) as a phase change material (PCM) through dispersion of Cu-nanoparticles is the centerpiece of this research study. The nanoparticle-enhanced phase change material (NEPCM) demonstrates increased thermal conductivity and decreased melting time in comparison with the conventional PCM. An enthalpy-based lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) with a double distribution function (DDF) model is implemented to trace phase change front in a cylindrical-horizontal annul. The subcooling case is neglected and Prandtl number, Stefan number and Rayleigh number are fixed to 6.2, 1 and 105, respectively. In addition, the effects of varying the position of heated cylinder and nanoparticle volume fractions on the transient isotherms and liquid fractions are discussed.