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Abstract
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Nowadays, due to the features such as high latent heat and constant phase transition temperature, the utilization
of phase change materials (PCMs) in energy storage and thermal management systems has attracted scholars’
attention. However, the low thermal conductivity and solidification process of these materials has always been a
challenge for widespread implementation of them in disparate industries. The current research investigates the
characteristics of the PCM solidification process within a triplex tube Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage System
(LHTESS) with innovative hollow fins in the presence of ternary hybrid nanoparticles (THNPs) and radiative heat
transfer. The governing equations are solved using Galerkin Finite Element Method (GFEM) with various
boundary conditions in the outer wall, such as constant temperature, adiabatic, and coolant fluid temperature
(triplex), through FlexPDE software. Furthermore, the effect of key parameters, including shape factor and
volume fraction of THNPs, and radiative heat transfer on thermal storage performance is scrutinized. Ultimately,
the Taguchi method is adopted to determine the optimal point at which the full solidification time (FST) is
lowest. Results show that at 400000 s, the triplex case improved total discharging energy by 23% and 4% in
comparison to the constant temperature and the adiabatic case, respectively. Additionally, by including THNPs
with a volume percentage of 0.1 and a shape factor of 16.1 instead of 3, the required time for FTS reduces by
approximately 13.1% and 21.9%, respectively. Also, the overall solidification times of the PCMs decrease to 36%
by enhancing the radiation parameter from 0 to 1. These outcomes illustrate THNPs and considered fins are
effective for reducing the FST and the shape factor of THNPs and radiation are key parameters that should be
considered by designers.
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