CONJUGATE HEAT TRANSFER MODELING IN ENCAPSULATED PHASE-CHANGE MICROPARTICLES FOR THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE

Phase-change materials (PCMs) can store large amounts of latent thermal energy. Encapsulating PCMs in microcapsules offers several advantages for practical use, including preventing leakage, improving thermal stability, and enhancing heat transfer. In this study, a numerical model is developed to simulate conjugate heat transfer in encapsulated phase-change microcylinders composed of ODE/PPFS, ODE/CaF<sub>2</sub>, ODE/SiO<sub>2</sub>, or PW/CaCO<sub>3</sub>, respectively. The model is validated against experimental measurement data reported in the literature. Key thermal properties such as average thermal conductivity, melting time, and enthalpy of the microcapsules are calculated. The numerical analyses explore the influence of various parameters, including microcapsule diameter, cylinder length, shell thickness, shell material, and core material. The study also offers valuable insights into optimizing the core-shell mass ratio for improved thermal transport and energy storage performance.