Numerical Study of a Cold Storage System for Air Cooling

Thanks to the advantages of storing the latent heat of melting, phase change materials (PCMs) are used in many applications including building air conditioning systems. This study examines the process of solidification of a PCM in an internally finned rectangular cold storage unit. The PCM, placed in the enclosure, is initially in heated liquid state having a temperature, Ti, higher than the melting point, Tm. Heat is transferred from the energy storage unit through the left vertical wall on which fins are attached. These fins, embedded in the PCM, allow increasing heat transfer thanks to their additional exchange surface. The left wall is in contact with a vertical duct through which heat transfer fluid (air), having an inlet temperature, Ta, in, lower than the melting point, Tm, flows in the downward direction. A parametric study was conducted in order to highlight the impact of operating parameters such as air inlet temperature and flow rate on the thermal behavior and thermal performance of the cold storage unit.