Heat Transfer and Storage of Sodium Nitrate with Alumina Nanoparticles - Numerical Analysis.

New nanomaterials based on sodium nitrate and different concentrations (0.5%, 1% and 1.5% wt.) of alumina nanoparticles have been analyzed successfully via CFD. A numerical study on differences of thermo-physical properties of Phase Change Material (PCM) due to dispersion of alumina nanoparticles on sodium nitrate was produced. Transient numerical simulations with enthalpy porosity approach implemented in the commercial CFD-Code ANSYS FLUENT were performed. An increase of the conductivity of the nano-enhanced Phase Change Material was predicted to lower charging and discharging cycles. The specific heat was simulated at 529K (solid state) and 599K (liquid state). The melting temperature, the heat of fusion onset and crystallization temperatures of nanomaterials were compared with those of the base salt. At the maximum concentration (1.5%), decrements of cp were obtained at 529K and at 599K. In the case of the heat of fusion, a notable decrease was also predicted at the maximum concentration