Eur. Phys. J. Plus (2019) 134: 173
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/i2019-12627-9

Regular Article

Transient process in a finned triplex tube during phase changing of aluminum oxide enhanced PCM

¹ School of Engineering, Ocean University of China, 266110, Qingdao, China
² School of Mechanical, Materials, Mechatronic and Biomedical Engineering, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Wollongong, Australia
³ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, Babol, Iran
⁴ Renewable energy systems and nanofluid applications in heat transfer Laboratory, Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, Babol, Iran
⁵ Department of Mathematics, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Pakistan
⁶ Public Authority of Applied Education & Training, College of Technological Studies, Applied Science Department, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
⁷ Electrical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Majmaah University, 11952, Al-Majmaah, Saudi Arabia
⁸ Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, Majmaah University, 11952, Al-Majmaah, Saudi Arabia

^* e-mail: zahir1987@yahoo.com

Received: 18 January 2019
Accepted: 12 March 2019
Published online: 26 April 2019

Abstract

The transient process in a finned triplex tube during solidification of NEPCM was reported numerically. We tried to increase conduction by adding aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) nanoparticles and metallic fins. To simulate the transient problem with an adaptive grid, the best choice is the Galerkin finite element technique that we have considered in the current research. Contours illustrate that adding alumina makes the conduction stronger and choosing nm results in the best discharging rate. Utilizing a longer fin tends to expedite discharging due to augmentation in thermal diffusion.