화물 컨테이너용 액상 백 내부 PCM의 용융 과정에 대한열유동 특성 해석

This study examined the natural convection heat flow characteristics of the melting process of PCM (palm oil) inside a liquid flexitank(bag) for a cargo container. A film heating element was installed on the bottom of the container, and numerical analysis was performed under heat flux conditions of 1,000 to 4,000 W/m2 . As a result, the melt interface of the PCM rises to a nearly horizontal state over time. In the initial stage, conduction heat transfer dominates, but gradually waves at the cell flow and melt interfaces are formed due to natural convection heat transfer. As melting progresses, the Ra number increases parabolically, and the Nu number increases linearly and has a constant value. The Nu number rises slowly under low heat flux conditions, whereas under high heat flux conditions, the Nu number rises rapidly. As the heat flux increases, the internal temperature oscillation of the liquid phase after melting increases. However, under high heat flux conditions, excess heat exceeding the latent heat is generated, and the temperature of the molten liquid is raised, so the increase in melting rate decreases. Therefore, the appropriate heating element specification applied to a 20-ton palm oil container is 2,000 W/m2 .