Rotating fins in phase change materials for cyclable high-power density latent thermal energy storage

This study proposes a novel dynamic thermal enhancement technique for latent thermal energy storage based on a rotating helical screw fin inspired by Archimedean geometry. The system integrates mechanical scraping and convective mixing into a single mechanism that can effectively operate during both melting and solidification phases of phase change materials (PCMs). In this study, experimental results validate the concept for the solidification process, showing improved heat transfer performance and power density compared to a baseline configuration without fins. Particularly, the introduction of this rotating helical screw fin led to reductions of 46% and 50% in solidification times for Δ T = 20 °C and Δ T = 10 °C, respectively. This study further highlights the potential of mechanical aids to enhance thermal transfer in latent thermal energy storage, thus possibly opening new pathways for efficient PCM-based thermal management. • Rotating helical screw fin proposed for dynamic PCM heat transfer enhancement. • Scraping and convective mixing combined in a single rotating mechanism. • Solidification time reduced by up to 50% compared to a no-fin configuration. • Concept suitable for retrofitting tube-based latent heat exchangers.