Solidification Within a Cavity Filled with Phase Change Material

Due to the serious impacts of global warming and pollution, coupled with the imminent depletion of fossil fuels, the world is seeking to replace conventional sources of energy with renewable alternatives. Among these alternatives, solar energy and wind energy, although intermittent, are promising options. To better harness the potential of these renewable sources, the development of energy storage systems, particularly latent heat storage, is crucial to ensure reliable operation and increase the energy supply in renewable energy systems. This article presents a numerical study of the solidification of phase change material (PCM) within a rectangular cavity, considering variations in the cavity width. The analyzed widths range from 10, 50, 100, 150, to 200 mm. The study uses a one-dimensional model formulated based on the principles of heat conduction and the enthalpy approach. The resulting system of equations is numerically treated using the finite volume approximation. To assess the accuracy of the computational model developed and implemented in Matlab, tests and comparative validation were conducted against the established results in the field of study. The proposed correlations for the solid-liquid interface position, which defines the boundary between the solid and liquid phases of the PCM during the solidification process, show a remarkable agreement with the results of the reference articles, with maximum deviations of 5.20% and 2.11%, respectively. The effects of the vertical plate temperature and cavity width on the interface position, interface velocity, stored energy, and time for complete solidification are presented and discussed.