Rotating fins in phase change materials for cyclable high-power density latent thermal energy storage

This study proposes a novel dynamic thermal enhancement technique for latent thermal energy storage based on a rotating helical screw fin inspired by Archimedean geometry. The system integrates mechanical scraping and convective mixing into a single mechanism that can effectively operate during both melting and solidification phases of phase change materials (PCMs). In this study, experimental results validate the concept for the solidification process, showing improved heat transfer performance and power density compared to a baseline configuration without fins. Particularly, the introduction of this rotating helical screw fin led to reductions of 46% and 50% in solidification times for temperature difference of 20 and 10 degrees Celsius, respectively. This study further highlights the potential of mechanical aids to enhance thermal transfer in latent thermal energy storage, thus possibly opening new pathways for efficient PCM-based thermal management.