Lattice Boltzmann Simulation of Convection Melting in Complex Heat Storage Systems Filled with Phase Change Materials

Abstract

A double-population lattice Boltzmann method is applied to simulate the convection–diffusion phenomena associated with solid–liquid phase transition processes. The research focus is the lattice Boltzmann method advanced to complex multitube heat storage system with different numbers and arrangements of tubes. A systematic comparison of different lattice Boltzmann models for thermal and flow field in the phase-change process is numerically conducted in a square cavity; the numerical results are validated by the literature data. The computational results show how the transient phase-change process, expressed in terms of the volume melt fraction of phase change materials, depends on the thermal and geometrical parameters of the system.