Taguchi-based optimization of melting time in fin-enhanced cylindrical PCM containers under rotational and magnetic effects

As the demand for energy continues to rise globally and the need for sustainable energy solutions intensifies, developing effective methods for energy storage becomes crucial. The present article explores the melting behavior of phase change materials (PCMs) in a cylindrical chamber using internal tubes integrated with axial fins in various configurations. The enthalpy-porosity method is applied in numerical simulations, incorporating RT82 as the PCM. The impact of different shapes and configurations of the internal tubes with fins on melting behavior is examined at various fixed and rotational speeds. The results indicate that, assuming a constant mass of PCM in the chamber, the arrangement of the cylinders and geometric shape significantly affect the melting process. Specifically, geometry C4 exhibits the fastest melting process. The arrangement of the cylinders influences the degree to which rotational speed affects the melting process, with improvements of about 2–3% observed only in geometry C2 as rotational speed increases. The magnetic field and its increased intensity positively impact the melting process, potentially accelerating it by up to 83%. The Taguchi method has been utilized for experimental design, examining the impact of key parameters on melting time to determine the optimal configuration.