Impacts of conduction and radiation modes on freezing within an enclosure utilizing hybrid nanoparticles by means of mathematical modeling

Abstract

Current article presents a comprehensive mathematical modeling approach to assess the productivity of a cold storage unit enhanced with advanced thermal management techniques. The storage unit, designed as a porous container, is filled with a hybrid nanomaterial that significantly improves the system’s efficiency. The model also incorporates the impact of radiation cooling to provide a more accurate assessment of the freezing. Given the negligible effect of velocity terms on the overall process, the mathematical model was simplified, focusing primarily on the energy equation. The Galerkin technique was engaged to solve the model, coupled with an implicit technique to account for unsteady terms. To further enhance accuracy, an adaptive grid was implemented, allowing for finer resolution near critical areas such as the advancing ice front. The results of the study reveal several key findings. The dispersion of hybrid nano-powders within the porous container accelerates the freezing process by approximately 7.11%, demonstrating the significant role these materials play in enhancing thermal conductivity. Additionally, the inclusion of radiation cooling further improves the efficiency, reducing the freezing time by 3.47%. Most notably, the incorporation of porous foam within the system leads to a remarkable 82.5% reduction in freezing time, highlighting its critical importance in optimizing cold storage systems.