Geometry Effect of CaCl2.6H2O at Charging and Discharging Process as Latent TES Akhmad Yusuf, Shofi Dhiya Ulhaq, Surjamanto Wonorahardjo, Inge Magdalena Sutjahja
Physics Department, FMIPA, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jl. Ganesha No. 10, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
Building Technology Research Group, SAPPK, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jl. Ganesha No. 10, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
Abstract
Phase Change Materials (PCMs) as thermal energy storage can store a relatively large amount of latent heat at a relatively constant temperature during the solid to liquid (melting process), or vice versa. With many applications of PCM as temperature regulation such as for building application, heating or cooling devices for battery, electronic, food preservation, and medicine, the geometry effect is significant to optimize its performance because each type of application requires a specific kind of geometry. This paper reports the simulation study for the nucleation of an inorganic PCM of CaCl2.6H2O (melting temperature 29 C) by using Ansys fluent for various 2D and 3D geometric shapes. The 2D objects consist of circles, squares, and rectangular, while the 3D objects consist of sphere, cube and cylinder. The density, heat capacity, thermal conductivity, and viscosity as the input parameters were taken or extrapolated from previous experimental studies. The simulation study results consisting of time-dependent temperature for the liquid to solid phase transition and time-dependent liquid mass fraction can be used to optimize the geometry of CaCl2.6H2O as the medium of thermal energy storage (TES).
Keywords: phase change material (PCMs), thermal energy storage (TES), phase change simulations, CaCl2.6H2O, Ansys, latent heat
