Experimental study on influence of inner tube movement on charging-discharging performance in horizontal shell-and-tube phase change thermal energy storage exchanger

doi:10.11949/0438-1157.20250551

Abstract

Abstract:

To systematically enhance the charging and discharging performance of a shell-and-tube phase change thermal energy storage exchangers, this study utilized a horizontal shell-and-tube experimental platform with a movable inner tube, combined with a high-precision image acquisition system and a quantitative solid-liquid interface characterization method. We investigated the effects of different inner-tube vertical translation speeds (0.01 mm·s^-1, 0.05 mm·s^-1, and 0.1 mm·s^-1) and translation distances (5 mm, 10 mm, and 20 mm) on charging and discharging characteristics. The results demonstrate that inner-tube motion can effectively intensify the heat-transfer process of the phase-change material, with charging/discharging performance improving as the translation speed and distance increase. Compared to the static state, the optimized inner tube movement strategy reduces the heat storage and release times by 5221 s and 1978 s, respectively, and the average temperature change rate increases to 1.82 times and 1.07 times that of the static state, respectively. These findings provide guidance for the optimal design of movable-tube phase change thermal energy storage devices and lay the groundwork for active heat-transfer enhancement technologies.

Key words: shell-and-tube phase change thermal energy storage exchanger, inner tube movement, charging and discharging performance, experimental validation, phase change, heat transfer

摘要：

为改善管壳式相变储热器的储放热性能，基于内管可移动卧式管壳相变储放热实验平台，结合高精图数采集系统与固液相界面定量表征方法，研究了换热内管在既定竖直运动方向下不同移动速率（0.01、0.05和0.1 mm·s^-1）与移动距离（5、10和20 mm）对储放热特性的影响规律。结果表明，内管运动可有效强化相变材料的传热过程，储放热性能随内管移动速率和距离的增加而增强。与静止状态相比，优化的内管运动策略下储放热时间分别减少5221和1978 s，平均温度变化率分别提高至静止时的1.82倍和1.07倍。研究结论可为内管移动式相变储热装置的优化设计提供指导，并为主动强化传热技术的研究奠定基础。

关键词: 管壳式相变储热器, 内管移动, 储放热性能, 实验验证, 相变, 传热

CLC Number:

TK 124

Shengjie WANG, Shaobin ZHOU, Ming GAO, Zhixing WU, Wenqiang GUO, Wei ZHANG, Jun JIANG, Jie RAN, Xiao WANG. Experimental study on influence of inner tube movement on charging-discharging performance in horizontal shell-and-tube phase change thermal energy storage exchanger[J]. CIESC Journal, 2025, 76(10): 5402-5413.

王胜杰, 周少斌, 高明, 武治星, 郭文强, 张伟, 姜君, 冉劼, 王晓. 内管移动对卧式管壳相变储热器储放热性能影响的实验研究[J]. 化工学报, 2025, 76(10): 5402-5413.

Figures/Tables 15

Fig.1 Shell-and-tube phase change thermal energy storage exchanger with mobile inner tube experimental test platform series figure

Table 1 Physical property parameter of RT25 PCM

物性参数	数值
熔化温度/K	298.15
潜热/(J·g^-1)	228
密度/(g·cm^-3)	液相：0.76；固相：0.78
热导率/(W·m^-1·K^-1)	0.2
黏度/(kg·m^-1·s^-1)	0.0017
热膨胀系数	0.001
比热容/(J·g^-1·K^-1)	液相：2.4；固相：1.8

Fig.2 Image processing procedure (the charging process)

Table 2 Inner tube motion parameter setting

参数	数值
内管移动速率/（mm·s^-1）	0.01、0.05、0.1
内管移动距离/mm	5、10、20
内管移动方向	-y

Fig.3 Schematic diagram of the experimental procedure

Fig.4 Temperature curves for the charging process under stationary conditions

Fig.5 Liquid phase change for the charging process under stationary conditions

Fig.6 Temperature curves under stationary conditions during the discharging process

Fig.7 Solid phase change for the discharging process under stationary conditions

Fig.8 Solid-liquid phase fraction variation curve for different speed conditions

Fig. 9 Single solid-phase superposition projections for different speed conditions

Fig.10 Solid-liquid phase fraction variation curve for different distance conditions

Fig.11 Single solid-phase superposition projections for different distance conditions

Table 3 Performance evaluation parameter of inner tube stationary condition

性能指标	数值
β_m/%	54.84
β_s/%	32.63
P_m/W	128.05
P_s/W	32.90
V_T/(℃·min^-1)	0.229
$V T'$ /(℃·min^-1)	0.397
Δτ_0-2/s	11702
Δτ_30%/s	13665

Table 3 Performance evaluation parameter of inner tube stationary condition

性能指标	数值
β_m/%	54.84
β_s/%	32.63
P_m/W	128.05
P_s/W	32.90
V_T/(℃·min^-1)	0.229
$V T'$ /(℃·min^-1)	0.397
Δτ_0-2/s	11702
Δτ_30%/s	13665

Fig.12 Effect of different inner tube movement parameters on charging and discharging performance

References 31

[1]	陈海生, 李泓, 徐玉杰, 等. 2023年中国储能技术研究进展[J]. 储能科学与技术, 2024, 13(5): 1359-1397.
	Chen H S, Li H, Xu Y J, et al. Research progress of energy storage technology in China in 2023[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2024, 13(5): 1359-1397.
[2]	Boujelbene M, Mohammed H I, Sultan H S, et al. A comparative study of twisted and straight fins in enhancing the melting and solidifying rates of PCM in horizontal double-tube heat exchangers[J]. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, 2024, 151: 107224.
[3]	白志蕊, 徐洪涛, 屈治国, 等. 相变套管式储热系统放冷性能实验研究[J]. 化工学报, 2020, 71(4): 1580-1587.
	Bai Z R, Xu H T, Qu Z G, et al. Experimental study of phase change sleeve tube thermal storage system performance during charging[J]. CIESC Journal, 2020, 71(4): 1580-1587.
[4]	熊鑫. 管壳式相变蓄热单元的强化传热研究[D]. 包头: 内蒙古科技大学, 2023.
	Xiong X. Heat transfer enhancement of shell and tube phase change heat storage unit[D]. Baotou: Inner Mongolia University of Science & Technology, 2023.
[5]	吕明璐, 杨鑫, 张瑶, 等. 换热器的现状分析及分类应用[J]. 当代化工, 2018, 47(3): 582-584.
	Lyu M L, Yang X, Zhang Y, et al. Current situation analysis and classified application of heat exchangers[J]. Contemporary Chemical Industry, 2018, 47(3): 582-584.
[6]	李海东, 张奇琪, 杨路, 等. 采用智能进化算法的管壳式换热器详细设计[J]. 化工学报, 2025, 76(1): 241-255.
	Li H D, Zhang Q Q, Yang L, et al. Detailed design of shell-and-tube heat exchanger using intelligent evolutionary algorithms[J]. CIESC Journal, 2025, 76(1): 241-255.
[7]	Xu Z L, Zhang X L, Ji J. Research progress of phase change heat storage technology in the application of solar heat pump[J]. Journal of Energy Storage, 2024, 86: 111272.
[8]	刘云龙, 龙威, 别玉, 等. 管壳式相变储热器场协同效应及影响因素研究[J]. 中国电机工程学报, 2025, 45(12): 4780-4791.
	Liu Y L, Long W, Bie Y, et al. Study on field synergy effect and influencing factors of shell-and-tube phase change heat storage[J]. Proceeding of the CSEE, 2025, 45(12): 4780-4791.
[9]	毕胜, 于鑫宇, 闫博文, 等. 石蜡基相变材料在储热领域的研究进展[J]. 科技创新与应用, 2024, 14(24): 79-84.
	Bi S, Yu X Y, Yan B W, et al. Research progress of paraffin-based phase change materials in the field of thermal storage[J]. Technology Innovation and Application, 2024, 14(24): 79-84.
[10]	Zhang X Y, Ge Y T, Burra, et al. Experimental investigation and CFD modelling analysis of finned-tube PCM heat exchanger for space heating[J]. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2024, 244: 122731.
[11]	戴宇成, 王增鹏, 刘凯豹, 等. 基于相变材料的储热器及其传热强化研究进展[J]. 储能科学与技术, 2023, 12(2): 431-458.
	Dai Y C, Wang Z P, Liu K B, et al. Research progress of heat storage and heat transfer enhancement based on phase change materials[J] Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2023, 12(2): 431-458.
[12]	Li H T, Dai H, Zhou S B, et al. Influence of movable inner tube on the charging performance for a horizontal latent thermal energy storage exchanger[J]. Journal of Energy Storage, 2024, 76: 109831.
[13]	Choure B K, Alam T, Kumar R. A review on heat transfer enhancement techniques for PCM based thermal energy storage system[J]. Journal of Energy Storage, 2023, 72: 108161.
[14]	Zhang J, Cao Z, Huang S, et al. Solidification performance improvement of phase change materials for latent heat thermal energy storage using novel branch-structured fins and nanoparticles[J]. Applied Energy, 2023, 342: 121158.
[15]	Zhu R S, Jing D L. Numerical study on the discharging performance of a latent heat thermal energy storage system with fractal tree-shaped convergent fins[J]. Renewable Energy, 2024, 221: 119726.
[16]	张欣宇, 杨晓宏, 张燕楠, 等. 基于二维梯度树状肋相变储热系统强化传热机理[J]. 化工学报, 2022, 73(10): 4399-4409.
	Zhang X Y, Yang X H, Zhang Y N, et al. Heat transfer enhancement mechanism of phase change heat storage system based on two-dimensional gradient dendritic fins[J]. CIESC Journal, 2022, 73(10): 4399-4409.
[17]	沈永亮, 张朋威, 刘淑丽. 肋片和多孔介质强化梯级相变储热系统性能的对比研究[J]. 化工学报, 2022, 73(10): 4366-4376.
	Shen Y L, Zhang P W, Liu S L. Comparative study on the performance of cascaded latent heat storage system enhanced by fins and porous media[J]. CIESC Journal, 2022, 73(10): 4366-4376.
[18]	Huang X Y, Du Z, Li Y J, et al. Optimal design on fin-metal foam hybrid structure for melting and solidification phase change storage: an experimental and numerical study[J]. Energy, 2024, 302: 131813.
[19]	Hamid R, Mehrdoost Z. Thermal performance enhancement of multiple tubes latent heat thermal energy storage system using sinusoidal wavy fins and tubes geometry modification[J]. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2024, 245: 122750.
[20]	徐阳, 郑章靖, 李明佳. 管壳式相变储热器性能快速预测研究[J]. 化工学报, 2019, 70(S2): 237-243.
	Xu Y, Zheng Z J, Li M J. Study on rapid performance prediction of shell-and-tube phase change heat storage[J]. CIESC Journal, 2019, 70(S2): 237-243.
[21]	Rashid F L, Rahbari A, Ibrahem R K, et al. Review of solidification and melting performance of phase change materials in the presence of magnetic field, rotation, tilt angle, and vibration[J]. Journal of Energy Storage, 2023, 67: 107501.
[22]	Yang C, Zheng Z J, Cai X, et al. Experimental study on the effect of rotation on melting performance of shell-and-tube latent heat thermal energy storage unit[J]. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2022, 215: 118877.
[23]	Selvakumar R D, Alkaabi A K. Design and performance evaluation of a novel electrohydrodynamically enhanced PCM heat sink[J]. Journal of Energy Storage, 2024, 94: 112375.
[24]	Zheng Z J, Sun Y, Chen Y, et al. Study of the melting performance of shell-and-tube latent heat thermal energy storage unit under the action of rotating finned tube[J]. Journal of Energy Storage, 2023, 62: 106801.
[25]	Li B F, Yang X L, Yu N, et al. Performance analysis and multi-objective optimization of a rotating triple-tube latent heat thermal energy storage unit with V-fin[J]. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2025, 264: 125405.
[26]	Huang X Y, Li F F, Guo J F, et al. Design optimization on solidification performance of a rotating latent heat thermal energy storage system subject to fluctuating heat source[J]. Applied Energy, 2024, 362: 122997.
[27]	Huang X Y, Liu Z M, Gao X Y, et al. Application of actively enhanced solar phase change heat storage system in building heating: a numerical and statistical optimization study[J]. Renewable Energy, 2025, 241: 122328.
[28]	Wu Y H, Luo M J, Chen S, et al. Numerical simulation study of the effect of mechanical vibration on heat transfer in a six-fin latent heat thermal energy storage unit[J]. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 2023, 207: 123996.
[29]	Yang C, Xu Y, Xu X R, et al. Melting performance analysis of finned metal foam thermal energy storage tube under steady rotation[J]. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 2024, 226: 125458.
[30]	Zhou S B, Dai H, Chen H M, et al. Influence of the inner tube rotation and translation associated movement on the charging performance for the latent heat thermal energy storage exchangers[J]. Renewable Energy, 2024, 237: 121531.
[31]	Bahrami H R, Ghaedi M. Enhancement of charging time in a shell-and-tube latent heat storage system using innovative inner-tube motion profiles: a numerical study[J]. Energy Conversion and Management: X, 2025, 26: 100981.