Investigating swastika fins to enhance heat transfer and melting process of nano-enhanced phase change materials units

The ability of nano-enhanced phase change materials (NePCM) to store thermal energy has garnered the interest of scientists. An approach to enhancing thermal conductivity involves the implementation of novel fins that facilitate a more rapid PCM melting process. The present investigation assessed the efficacy of eight distinct fin configurations in augmenting the thermal properties of NePCM. Four occurrences featured swastika fins, whereas the remaining instances exhibited a 45-degree tilt angle. The enthalpy-porosity method was implemented to simulate heat transfer and melting process. The present research investigates the effects of fin tilt angles and swastika fins on the NePCM-thermal energy storage (TES) unit's mean temperature, liquid percentage, and thermal energy storage. Compared to the straight fins (Case 1), the long-arm swastika fins (Case 4) decreased the melting time by a factor of 2.3. In addition, Case 4 demonstrated exceptional thermal energy storage capabilities. Case 7 demonstrated that the tilting angle significantly affected the melting time, with a reduction of 34.9 %, compared to the non-tilted swastika fins utilized in Case 2. However, the increase in the fins' length was more substantial. According to the findings of this study, Case 4 is the optimal fin configuration for NePCM-TES.