Wedge-shaped fins to enhance thermal performance of shell and tube heat exchangers containing phase change material: An experimental study

This study addresses restricted thermal conductivity in phase change materials (PCMs) used in latent heat storage (LHS) systems, aiming to enhance heat transfer efficiency by intensifying convective flow using a novel wedge fin design. A comparative experimental analysis is performed between wedge-finned and annular-finned tube heat exchangers (HXs), assuming equal fin material. Results show that the wedge-finned tube HX achieves higher Nusselt numbers, improved heat distribution, and a remarkable 12.8% reduction in melting time compared to the annular-finned HX at a heat transfer fluid (HTF) temperature of 90celcius. Furthermore, the wedge-finned tube HX exhibits a substantial 84.3% decrease in melting time compared to the bare tube HX. These findings highlight the practical significance of employing wedge fin design for improving heat transfer efficiency in LHS systems, offering valuable insights for the design and optimization of such systems.