A comprehensive review of miscellaneous heat transfer enhancement designs of phase change material integrated heat exchanger

Abstract

This comprehensive review focuses on the specific investigation of heat transfer enhancement with a primary objective of achieving more uniform melting/solidification within heat exchangers employing phase change materials (PCM). The paper begins highlighting the crucial role of heat exchangers and introduces the unique studies associated with achieving uniform phase changes. The main body of the paper seeks to explore heat transfer enhancement strategies, particularly within shell-and-tube structures and plate heat exchanger (PHE). Moreover, the study discusses the role of these strategies in achieving more uniform melting/solidification in phase change materials. Special attention is applied to examining advancements and methodologies aimed at optimizing heat transfer for improved performance in applications requiring control of phase changes. As a new contribution, the paper examines the application of PCM in PHEs, providing insights into their effectiveness in facilitating more uniform phase change and PCM usage in these heat exchangers. Notable improvements were also observed from literature studies with specific fin geometries, where longitudinal and spider-web-like structures reduced solidification times by as much as 63 % and enhanced melting uniformity by 47.9 %. Operational parameter optimization, particularly through increasing heat transfer fluid (HTF) inlet temperature by 10 °C, resulted in a 35 % decrease in charging time, underscoring the importance of temperature control in Thermal energy storage (TES) applications. The literature studies mentioned that enhanced PHE configurations, including corrugated and zigzag plate designs, have demonstrated up to nine times faster charging and discharging rates compared to traditional concentric systems due to increased surface area. This study provides essential insights for researchers and practitioners aiming to enhance heat exchanger designs for critical applications in thermal energy storages.