Discharge optimization in shell-and-tube latent heat storage systems using response surface methodology

This study addresses the critical challenge of optimizing heat recovery rates (HRR) in phase change material (PCM)-based thermal storage systems, which are essential for improving energy efficiency and supporting sustainable energy solutions. Efficient thermal storage is pivotal for managing fluctuating energy demands and integrating renewable energy sources. To optimize the design parameters, five critical variables—vertical and horizontal tube spacing, tube diameter, tube height from the bottom, and aspect ratio—are systematically evaluated using the Taguchi method. By considering four levels for each variable, the required experimental configurations are reduced from 45 to 16 trials, streamlining the optimization process. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) is applied to model the heat recovery behavior, achieving high predictive accuracy (R² = 0.9). The study finds that vertical tube spacing and horizontal spacing are the dominant factors, contributing to ∼57.6 % and ∼12.6 % of the total HRR variance, respectively, with the optimized design resulting in a 24.4 % improvement in HRR.