Structural Optimization and Numerical Simulation of a High Temperature Phase Change Thermal Storage Electric Boiler

The research object of this paper is a high temperature phase change thermal storage electric boiler. The related design and calculation of the high temperature phase change heat storage electric boiler were first made according to the heating load demand, then the reasonable high temperature phase change heat storage material and the electric heating module were selected under the condition of a determined electric boiler power, and the structure of the heat storage module was finally optimized. The FLUENT software was used to simulate the regenerative effect of the flat-plate type and the sawtooth type regenerator through two different layout methods. By comparing the temperature changes of the monitoring points in the four different models, the time required for the heat storage and the liquid phase rate of the high temperature phase change storage material. The following conclusions were obtained. First, the layouts of the distributary channel were better than that of the serpentine channel. In addition, the sensible heat storage stage was completed ahead of schedule, and the phase change heat storage stage was reduced by 0.22 h. Second, the heat transfer effect of sawtooth regenerative plate is better than that of flat regenerative plate. The phase change heat storage stage of sawtooth regenerative plate was completed 0.20 h ahead of schedule under the same arrangement of regenerative plate. Third, the regenerative effect of the sawtooth distributary channel (model (d)) was the best because it was optimized in the layout and the shape, which led to the heat transfer rate, and the latent heat storage time was both accelerated. It can store more heat in the same heating time, avoiding the defect of incomplete storage of the flat serpentine channel (model (a)).