TY - JOUR
TI - Computer simulation of micro-channel heat transfer and thermal energy storage systems
AU - Wang Jing
AU - Yang Haotian
JN - Thermal Science
PY - 2026
VL - 30
IS - 1
SP - 69
EP - 77
PT - Article
AB - This paper constructs a thermal model for micro-channel heat transfer and  thermal energy storage, including conduction, convection, and radiation  models, as well as sensible and latent heat storage models. Simulations were  performed using FLUENT and COMSOL, and experimental validation was  combined. The micro-channel heat transfer model incorporates a modified  Fourier law to account for scale effects, while the convection heat transfer  model incorporates roughness and cross-section corrections. The energy  storage model also includes corrections for specific heat capacity  non-linearity and phase change supercooling. The simulations employed the  SST k-ω model and multiphysics coupling, with a mesh size of 2.5 million  elements after verification of mesh independence. Experiments used a copper  micro-channel heat exchanger and composite phase change material,  controlling the flow rate, heat flux, and fill level. Results show that the  simulated and experimental heat transfer coefficients deviate by ≤3.2%, and  the energy storage density deviates by ≤3.8%, validating the model's  accuracy and providing a basis for optimizing micro-channel heat transfer  and energy storage systems.
DO - 10.2298/TSCI2601069W
ER -