Numerical Simulation of the Effect of Sinusoidal Fin Arrangement on the Heat Transfer of a Phase Change Material in a Cavity

Janabi, Hussein Basim Lateef; Ahmadi Nadooshan, Afshin

doi:10.22034/jmnr.2025.15465.1015

Numerical Simulation of the Effect of Sinusoidal Fin Arrangement on the Heat Transfer of a Phase Change Material in a Cavity

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Hussein Basim Lateef Janabi

Afshin Ahmadi Nadooshan

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran

10.22034/jmnr.2025.15465.1015

Abstract

The present study focuses on the numerical simulation of the effect of sinusoidal fin arrangement on the heat transfer performance of a phase change material (PCM) in a cavity using ANSYS Fluent software. The results show that the sinusoidal fin increases the heat transfer surface area and allows more thermal energy to be transferred from the warm wall to the depth of the phase change material. This fin design leads to more efficient melting and energy storage, especially since the wavy surface allows heat to reach areas that might otherwise remain cooler. The sinusoidal fin enhances natural convection currents within the cavity, resulting in more uniform and faster heat transfer. As the melting progresses and more PCM converts to liquid, buoyancy-induced convection currents develop, circulating the molten material and distributing heat more uniformly throughout the cavity. The sinusoidal shape of the fin enhances the convection effects, and by directing the flow of the liquid PCM, heat is effectively transferred to all areas of the cavity. With the same surface area of the fins, the Nusselt number is reduced from about 9 to about 7.4 by enhancing the wave amplitude from 0 to 12.

Keywords

Energy storage

Phase change material

Sinusoidal fin

Cavity