Simulation on heat transfer and thermal storage processes of foamed metal composite PCM microstructure

doi:10.11949/0438-1157.20201128

Abstract

Abstract:

Paraffin wax is used as the phase change material (PCM), and the three-dimensional structure model of six-sided round holes is used to numerically simulate the phase change melting process of the foam metal composite PCM. The effects of different metal foam materials (Cu, Al, Ni, Fe), pore density and porosity on the heat transfer and heat storage performance of composite PCM were studied by monitoring the liquid phase fraction and total heat storage during the phase change interface evolution. The results show that the heat transfer process of foamed metal composite PCM is affected by heat conduction and natural convection. The complete melting time of composite PCM can be shortened and heat transfer can be accelerated by increasing pore density, but the shortening range decreases with the increase of pore density and the higher the thermal conductivity of the foam metal, the greater the influence of pore density on the heat transfer rate. Thermal non-equilibrium phenomenon exists in the foamed metal composite PCM, and the increase of pore density and porosity can both reduce the maximum average temperature difference, but the effect on the final equilibrium time is quite different. Increasing pore density can shorten the final equilibrium time, while increasing porosity will prolong the final equilibrium time. In addition, the heat storage density per unit mass of foam metal composite PCM increases with the increase of porosity. Compared with foam Cu, Ni and Fe composite PCM, foam Al composite PCM has a higher heat storage density per unit mass and a higher rate.

Key words: foam metal, composite material, phase change, microstructure, heat transfer and thermal storage, numerical simulation

摘要：

以石蜡作为相变材料（PCM），采用六面通圆孔三维结构模型，对泡沫金属复合PCM内相变熔化过程进行了数值模拟。研究了不同材料（Cu、Al、Ni、Fe）泡沫金属孔密度和孔隙率对复合PCM传热和储热性能的影响。结果表明，泡沫金属复合PCM传热过程受热传导和自然对流作用综合影响；随孔密度增加，复合PCM完全熔化时间缩短幅度逐渐减小，且泡沫金属热导率越高，孔密度对传热速率影响越大；泡沫金属复合PCM内存在非热平衡现象，孔密度和孔隙率增加均可减小最大平均温差，但对最终平衡时间的影响却截然不同；此外，泡沫金属复合PCM单位质量储热密度随孔隙率增大而增大，相比泡沫Cu、Ni、Fe复合PCM，泡沫Al复合PCM的单位质量储热密度较大，增加速率也较大。

关键词: 泡沫金属, 复合材料, 相变, 微结构, 传热储热, 数值模拟

CLC Number:

TK 124

XU Xianggui, WANG Liqiong, WANG Junlei, WANG Yan, HUANG Qiao, HUANG Yun. Simulation on heat transfer and thermal storage processes of foamed metal composite PCM microstructure[J]. CIESC Journal, 2021, 72(2): 956-964.

徐祥贵, 王丽琼, 王君雷, 王燕, 黄巧, 黄云. 泡沫金属复合PCM微结构传热储热过程模拟[J]. 化工学报, 2021, 72(2): 956-964.

Figures/Tables 17

Fig.1 One cell cubic model

Fig.2 Surface of the pore

Fig.3 Numerical model of foamed metal composite PCM

Table 1 Physical parameters of paraffin

密度ρ/

(kg·m^-3)

热导率k/

(W·m^-1·K^-1)

比热容c_p/

(kJ·kg^-1·K^-1)

潜热L/

(kJ·kg^-1)

黏度μ/

(kg·m^-1·s^-1)

热膨胀系数

β/K^-1

固相温度

T_s/K

液相温度

T_l/K

Table 2 Physical properties of metallic foam

金属	密度ρ/(kg·m^-3)	热导率k/ (W·m^-1·K^-1)	比热容c_p/ (kJ·kg^-1·K^-1)
铜	8960	398	0.386
铝	2702	218	0.905
镍	8902	90.5	0.447
铁	7900	80.3	0.442

Fig.4 Step length independence verification

Fig.5 Grid independence verification

Fig.6 Central temperature of the composite PCM changes with time（5PPI，ε=0.913）

Fig.7 Temperature comparison between pure paraffin and paraffin wax inside foam Al composite PCM at 20%, 50% and 80% liquid fraction

Fig.8 Liquid phase fraction changed with time (X/L=0.5)

Fig.9 Temperature changed with time (X/L=0.5)

Fig.10 Change of liquid phase fraction with time

Fig.11 Melting time of foam metal composite PCM with different parameters

Fig.12 Average temperature difference between foamed metal and PCM changed with time

Fig.13 Total heat storage histogram of different foam metal composite PCM

Fig.14 Change of heat storage density per unit mass of foam metal composite PCM with different porosity over time

Fig.15 Change of heat storage density per unit mass of different materials foamed metal composite PCM with time

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