Similarity Curve in the Solidification Process of Latent Heat Energy Storage Unit with Straight Fins : 3rd Report, Effect of Fin on the Formation of the Similarity Rule

Abstract

The similarity rule states that a similarity curve representing the relationship between a similarity function and frozen fraction is indpendent of the Biot number under four specified conditions, including uniform distribution of heat flux over a heat transfer surface of a latent heat storage unit. A storage unit with straight fins, which has the nature of losing such spatial uniformity of heat flux inherently, has been analyzed numerically. The effects of thickness, thermal conductivity and the number of fins on the formation of the similarity rule have been examined, following the 2nd report describing the effect of the heat transfer tube. The results show that a relative difference between similarity curves for different Biot numbers is reduced with decreases in ( ; that is, the similarity rule becomes more and more applicable with a reduction in the thermal conductance of the fin. thickness and/or thermal conductivity of the fin) The distributions of both temperature inside the storage unit and surface heat flux have been shown for the purpose of discussing the results.