Abstract
Freezing of paraffin through a channel of air conditioning system was simulated in present study by means of finite volume approach. The sinusoidal air gaps have been imposed within the PCM (phase change material) zone. With inclusion of nanoparticles within RT28, the thermal features have been improved and for estimating the properties, single phase based formulations have been incorporated. The air zone has turbulent regime (Re = 2000 to 3000) and k-ε technique was applied while paraffin zone was laminar. The impact of gravity has been ignored in freezing process and implicit approach for discretization of unsteady terms has been applied. Two levels for fraction of nano-powders and inlet temperature of air have been involved in simulations. The freezing time reduces by 4.58 % with using nanoparticles which is associated with higher conductivity of NEPCM. With reduction of temperature of inlet flow, the solidification time reduces about 27.6 %. With rise of Re from 2e3 to 2.5e3 and 3e3, the freezing rate enhances around 14.3 % and 11.93 %.
•Freezing of paraffin through a channel of air conditioning system was simulated.•The freezing time declines around 4.58 % with dispersing nanoparticles.•With reduction of Tin, the solidification time reduces about 27.6 %.•With rise of Re, the freezing rate enhances around 14.3 %.