Numerical analysis of the combined influence of fin shape and location on constrained melting of phase change materials in a spherical capsule with double fins

This study presents a novel approach to investigating the combined influence of fin position and shape on the constrained melting behavior of phase change material (PCM) within a spherical capsule (S.C.) through numerical analysis. Unlike previous research, which predominantly focused on single fin shapes or positions, this work uniquely explores the impact of double, simple, and easily manufacturable fin shapes. A two-dimensional computational model employing the enthalpy–porosity method assesses melting behavior, temperature distribution, and PCM flow. Numerous fin shapes, namely rectangular, trapezoidal converging, trapezoidal diverging stepped, inverse stepped, and triangular, are considered in the analysis. The study reports the influence of the location of two identically shaped fins on the thermal performance. The fins' cross-sectional area and base thickness are kept equal in all cases. The thermal performance of an S.C.-integrated fin system is evaluated by analyzing various attributes such as total saving in the duration of melting, enhancement ratio, and Nusselt number. The results indicate that the position of the fins has a more significant impact on melting performance than the fin shape. The best performance is achieved when fins are placed in the lower half of the capsule, followed by the center and upper halves, regardless of fin shape. For rectangular fins, shifting the position of the fin from the bottom half to the center increases the melting time by 24.7% and the top half by 68.3%. The shortest melting time of 93 min is observed for lower-half rectangular fins, followed by center-placed triangular fins (94 min). This study offers a theoretical foundation for optimizing the performance of different technologies using latent heat thermal energy storage systems such as packed-bed, cascaded thermal energy storage systems.