Sustainable Decision Making for Performance Optimization of Multi-Stage Phase Change Latent TES in Solar Power Plants

This study explores the incorporation of phase change materials (PCMs) in solar power plants, emphasizing their potential to improve energy conversion efficiency and sustainability. Despite their promise, a notable research gap exists concerning the melting mass fraction of different PCMs during phase transitions, particularly through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis. This investigation seeks to address this gap by examining the melting behavior of Stearic Acid, RT58, and Lauric Acid within a system that utilizes hot water as the heat transfer fluid. The results are expected to offer insights for optimizing thermal energy storage systems, thereby enhancing solar power generation efficiency.