文献类型：期刊文献

英文题名：Effect of inner tube layout on PCM melting in multi-tube latent thermal energy storage module

作者：Zhou, Zhengdao[1];Zhang, Liyan[1];Zhang, Zhenying[1];Guan, Zheng[1];Li, Yang[1];Wang, Hui[2]

第一作者：Zhou, Zhengdao

通讯作者：Zhang, ZY[1]

机构：[1]North China Univ Sci & Technol, Coll Civil & Architectural Engn, Tangshan 063210, Peoples R China;[2]Beijing Union Univ, Coll Biochem Engn, Beijing 100023, Peoples R China

第一机构：North China Univ Sci & Technol, Coll Civil & Architectural Engn, Tangshan 063210, Peoples R China

通讯机构：[1]corresponding author), North China Univ Sci & Technol, Coll Civil & Architectural Engn, Tangshan 063210, Peoples R China.

年份：2026

卷号：292

外文期刊名：APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING

收录：;EI(收录号：20260920154932);WOS:【SCI-EXPANDED(收录号:WOS:001704011100003)】；

基金：This work was supported by Tangshan Science and Technology Planning Program (25130212B), National Natural Science Foundation of China (52306290), Tangshan Science and Technology Innovation Team Training Program (21130202D), and the S&T Program of Hebei (20474501D).

语种：英文

外文关键词：Thermal energy storage; Phase change material; Numerical simulation; Layout optimization coefficient; Heat transfer module

摘要：Thermal energy storage (TES) is a pivotal technology for mitigating the disparity between energy supply and demand and improving overall energy efficiency, making it an integral component of modern energy systems. Among various TES methods, latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) stands out due to its high energy storage density and excellent chemical stability. However, the low thermal conductivity of phase change materials (PCMs) remains a bottleneck in the development of LHTES systems. To overcome this limitation, this study conducts a numerical investigation into the melting process of PCM in the multi-tube LHTES module, with a specific focus on the layout of the inner tubes. A novel dimensionless parameter, the Layout Optimization Coefficient (LOC), is introduced, defined as the ratio of the inner tube perimeter to the shell perimeter within the critical lower zone of the module. Through detailed numerical simulations, a comparative analysis was conducted on five types of tube layouts: square (Sq), star (St), triangular (Tr), and their reversed counterparts (R-St, R-Tr). The Sq layout, with the highest LOC, reduces total melting time by 77.27% compared to a conventional double-tube design by effectively eliminating "heat transfer dead zones" and promoting convective flow. The Sq layout outperforms the Tr and St layouts, reducing heat storage time by 71.07% and 67.22%, respectively. The investigations of reversed configurations studies further validate the LOC's predictive power: R-Tr layout reduces the total melting time by 59.07% compared to the original Tr owing to higher LOC, whereas the R-St layout leads to a 6.32% increase relative to the original St owing to lower LOC. A clear performance threshold is identified at LOC = 0.65. Configurations with LOC > 0.65 ensure sufficient heating surface to disrupt the bottom solid PCM layer and sustain strong convection, thereby accelerating the storage process. This work establishes the LOC as a quantitative criterion for the inner tube layout of multi-tube LHTES modules, bridging the gap between configuration design and thermal performance optimization.