Optimization of the annular fin arrangement in phase change heat storage units based on response surface methodology

Latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) technology is of increasing industrial interest due to its advantages such as high heat storage density and near-constant temperature during the phase change process. However, the latent heat storage technology is impacted by the low thermal conductivity of the phase change material (PCM), leading to delays and heat loss in the heat transfer process within LHTES. This limitation reduces the efficiency of heat transfer and diminishes the performance of the heat storage unit. To address this issue, this paper employs numerical simulation and response surface methodology to investigate different types of annular fin phase change heat storage units, aiming to derive the optimal configuration for enhancing unit performance. Therefore, the effect of fin type and number on the melting and solidification process is analyzed in detail. The research results indicate that among the five different types of fins studied, the total time required for the unit to complete melting and solidification is the least with type "e" fins, only 51.78 h, demonstrating that type "e" fins have the best effect on improving unit performance. For type "e" fins, when the number of fins n is 15, it can most effectively shorten the melting and solidification time of the phase change heat storage unit, reducing it to only 47.81 h. In addition, the response surface methodology was utilized to derive the optimal fitting formulas for different types of annular fins and to validate these formulas, and the error between the validation analysis and the numerical simulations was within 5%, which confirms the reliability of the fitting formulas developed in this study. This approach facilitates the selection of various annular fin models for subsequent experimental and simulation studies, thereby reducing the time and cost associated with model selection.