The Technical College of Al-Musayyib, affiliated with Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, held a master’s thesis defense by researcher Amjad Ali from the Department of Power Mechanics Engineering Technologies. The thesis, “Experimental and Numerical Study of Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Using Phase Change Materials (PCMs),” focused on enhancing thermal storage systems through advanced engineering designs.
The research aimed to develop latent heat thermal energy storage units with innovative geometries, including both longitudinal and annular fins — solid and perforated — while analyzing the impact of key operational parameters such as heat transfer fluid temperature and flow rate on energy storage efficiency.
Findings revealed that the use of perforated annular fins significantly improved the melting efficiency of PCMs, reducing the melting time by approximately 40.6%, thereby enhancing the overall energy storage performance. Furthermore, improving the thermal conductivity of PCMs, such as lauric acid and paraffin wax, helped minimize thermal resistance and accelerate the charging process.
The study also indicated that increasing the flow rate of the heat transfer fluid had a limited effect, with only an 8.5% improvement in system performance.
Among its recommendations, the thesis proposed the integration of nanoparticles to enhance PCM properties and efficiency, in addition to adopting exergy efficiency analysis to optimize fin design and improve the overall performance of thermal energy systems.
This research contributes meaningfully to the advancement of thermal energy storage technologies in mechanical and renewable energy applications. It also reflects the college’s ongoing commitment to supporting applied scientific projects that serve the industrial and development sectors.
