Review on Numerical Simulations for Solidification & Melting of Nano-Enhanced Phase Change Materials (NEPCM)

Abstract

A review on numerical simulations performed for solidification and melting process of Nano-Enhanced Phase Change Materials (NEPCM) is reported. The studies were conducted to understand the factors influencing the outcome such as nanoparticle fraction in the mixture, nanoparticle size, boundary conditions imposed and container geometry. It was found that while most studies investigated particle fraction effect, very few was conducted on the effect of nanoparticle size and shape. The numerical models applied to simulate the numerical works were compared. Most researchers applied enthalpy-porosity formulation coupled with finite volume method to perform the simulations. Most models solved a single macroscale domain at each iteration by assuming NEPCM as a single-phase substance which resulted in no attempt to model it as a two-phase substance which requires multidomain approach. Such dilemma is avoided when mesoscale method (Lattice Boltzmann Method - LBM) is applied.