Computational heat transfer modeling of thermal energy storage canisters

A computer code has been developed for analyzing the phenomena occurring in cylindrical metal canisters containing a high temperature Phase Change Material (PCM). Such canisters are normally used as thermal storage elements in heat receivers of solar dynamic power systems for low orbit space vehicles. The code will be a useful canister design tool and it is able to predict the temperature distributions and the void behavior in the canisters. These in turn can be used for the canister thermal stress analyses.; The emphasis in the development of the code is made on accurate descriptions of the solid-liquid phase change process, void dynamics and heat transfer, convective and radiative heat transfer modes in the PCM. The capabilities of the code include computations of three dimensional and axisymmetric heat transfer and fluid mechanics phenomena inside the canisters. The code validation has been made based on the results of ground tests and two Thermal Energy Storage flight experiments, TES-1 and TES-2.; The validated code has been used for canister analyses. The following features have been examined: (1) the location of "hot spots" in the canister, especially canister walls; (2) the void location and heat transfer predictions; (3) the importance of radiative and convective heat transfer modes in the void and liquid PCM; and (4) influence of three-dimensional versus axisymmetric boundary conditions on the canister performance.; The code could be also used to analyze canisters of geometries different from cylindrical and other phenomena involving solid-liquid phase change.