Title: Entropy generation assessment of shell and tube latent heat storage unit

Authors: Manish K. Rathod; Jyotirmay Banerjee

Addresses: Mechanical Engineering Department, S.V. National Institute of Technology Surat, Gujarat 395007, India ' Mechanical Engineering Department, S.V. National Institute of Technology Surat, Gujarat 395007, India

Abstract: Thermodynamic optimisation for latent heat thermal energy storage unit (LHSU) is carried out using the theory of minimisation of entropy generation number. The influence of key parameters like heat transfer fluid (HTF) inlet temperature, initial temperature of phase change material (PCM) and mass flow rates of HTF on entropy generation number is analysed. Analysis is carried out for two PCMs, i.e., paraffin wax and stearic acid, with different melting temperature to establish the influence of melting temperature of PCM on entropy generation number. The results show that minimum HTF inlet temperature provides minimum entropy generation number. The results also demonstrate that higher initial temperature of PCM provides minimum entropy generation number during solidification process. The mass flow rate of HTF has negligible influence on the entropy generation number compared with the influence of fluid inlet temperature and initial temperature of PCM.

Keywords: LHSU; latent heat storage units; PCM initial temperature; phase change materials; entropy generation number; stearic acid; paraffin wax; thermodynamic optimisation; heat transfer fluid; HTF inlet temperature; mass flow rates; solidification.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2015.067301

International Journal of Exergy, 2015 Vol.16 No.1, pp.97 - 108

Received: 12 Jul 2013
Accepted: 01 Feb 2014
Published online: 03 Feb 2015 *

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