Abstract
In present work, numerical simulation for freezing of paraffin (RT28) and CuO nanoparticles were applied through a geometry containing radial fins. Three models for fins with same surface area were applied and container was full of NEPCM. The outer square wall was adiabatic and inner circular wall has constant cold temperature and fins were connected to this wall. Homogeneous formulations for NEPCM were utilized and buoyancy effect was considered in momentum equation. The data of solid fraction has been verified according to previous published numerical article and nice agreement was reported. To selected optimized number of nodes, the grid study has been presented and structure configuration of mesh has been applied. The treatment of NEPCM in view of temperature, solid fraction and irreversibility has been analyzed in results. The poorest configuration in view of time of procedure is third model. For the first model with elevate of time from 5 to 50 min, SF rises around 384.33% while frictional and thermal irreversibility declines around 199.1% and 159.89%, respectively.
•The freezing process of paraffin within a system with fins was simulated.•The kind of PCM is RT28 and CuO nano-powders are added.•With changing style of fins from A to C, liquid fraction declines about 37.93%.•The minimum required time occurs for case C.