Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of the Natural Convection Heat Transfer Coefficient in Phase Change Material (PCM) Based Fin-and-Tube Heat Exchanger

Latent heat thermal energy storage systems allow storing large amounts of in relatively small volumes. Phase change materials (PCMs) are used as a latent medium. However, low conductivity most PCMs results long melting (charging) and solidification (discharging) processes. This study focuses on the PCM process fin-and-tube type copper exchanger. The aim this is to define analytically natural convection transfer coefficient compare with experimental data. shows how local changes different areas exchanger it affected by choice characteristic length boundary conditions. It has been determined that applying calculation method occurring channel leads closer experiment. Using method, average values (have) during entire charging was obtained 68 W/m2K, compared result have = 61 W/m2K. beneficial predesign stage PCM-based units.