Validation of a Resistance-Capacitance Model (RCM) for the Design of Latent Thermal Energy Storage

In this work, a 2D Resistance Capacitance-based model (RCM) is developed and validated for predicting the thermal performance of latent thermal energy storages using Phase Change Materials (PCMs). The RCM tool permits to study the effects of novel 3D periodic lattice structures to enhance the phase change process in advanced latent thermal energy storages (LTESs). To validate the RCM tool, three different aluminum alloy based lattices (base sizes 10, 20, and 40 mm) with average porosity of 0.95 filled with different paraffin waxes, with nominal phase change temperature of 55°C-70°C, were experimentally investigated. The model was validated against the experimental data for melting under different heat fluxes. The proposed model can become a fast and accurate tool to design efficient latent thermal energy storages