Simulation of freezing process of PCM in existence of nano-sized additives within storage tank.

This study adopts an innovative approach to boost the efficiency of cold storage. It involves the introduction of CuO nano-powders into water within a uniquely designed rectangular container that features an H-shaped fin. In simulating the freezing process, we utilized the Galerkin technique. The model, intricately designed with conduction as its central driving force, incorporates a homogeneous mixture to mimic the behavior of nanomaterial. A noteworthy aspect of the study involved an in-depth exploration of the impact of powder shapes, providing comprehensive outputs to clarify this influence. The study meticulously considered two crucial variables, namely concentration (ϕ) and shape factor (m). Adding an extra layer of sophistication to the methodology, the shape of the grid was dynamically adjusted in response to the ice front's position. The accuracy of our approach was confirmed through validation against established benchmarks. The findings indicate that the lengthiest freezing process, spanning 6.4 s, was observed when using only water. Interestingly, with an augment in concentration (ϕ), the completion time exhibited a decrease of approximately 27.69%. Additionally, opting for particles with higher "m" values led to a noteworthy 10% decline in the required time, particularly when ϕ = 0.04. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]