# Effect of fins in enhancing phase change material fusion in a spherical thermal energy storage container

## TL;DR

This paper explores how adding fins to a thermal energy storage container improves the melting of phase change materials, enhancing solar energy storage efficiency.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is demonstrating that optimal fin placement significantly enhances PCM fusion and thermal storage performance.

## Key findings

- Case 4 with fins at top and bottom reduced melting time by 34% and 47.7% compared to no fins.
- Case 4 showed high thermal efficiency and effectiveness due to optimal fin placement.
- Optimal fin placement is suggested for improving solar energy storage systems.

## Abstract

The increased depletion of fossil fuels needs alternatives like solar energy to address daily demands. However, solar energy is intermittent, hence it is integrated with thermal energy storage (TES) systems. Phase change materials (PCM) are used in TES systems, but they suffer from meagre thermal conductivity, leading to less fusion. This study enhances PCM fusion using four different cases, namely, case 1 (without fins), case 2 (with two fins placed near the top), case 3 (with two fins placed near the bottom), and case 4 (with two fins placed near the top and bottom), respectively. The study is done with heat transfer fluid (HTF) temperature at 70 °C and 75 °C with a 30 LPH flow rate. Case 4 displayed a melting time reduction of 34%, and 47.7% when compared with case 1. It is also found with high thermal efficiency and effectiveness. The results indicate that case 4 is effective in expediting fusion and enhancing storage performance due to optimal fin placement, hence suggested for solar applications.