Hybrid Nanofluid Flow in a Water Heater with Intermediate Fins and PCM

In this work, the thermal performance of a double-wall tank with a phase change material (PCM) was examined numerically. Heated water flows into the tank and loses energy to the PCM. Fins are embedded in the PCM between the tank walls to accelerate the charging process. Utilizing fins leads to a decrease in the melting time (or an increase in the rate of energy storage) significantly. Two hybrid nanofluids at volume concentrations of phi=3% are compared with pure water in terms of PCM average temperature change versus time. The simulations are carried out for Reynolds numbers ranging from 0.5 to 4 x 10(4). Results indicate that using passive techniques of heat transfer enhancement in the proposed system, including fins and hybrid nanofluids, led to an accelerated melting process.