Development of Cellular Cast Structures for Improving Heat Transfer in Thermal Energy Storage Systems

For improving heat transfer in the thermal energy storage system (TES), cast aluminum cellular structures were designed, optimized, and produced by investment casting. The pattern was 3D printed from polylactide (PLA) polymer and then subjected to molding and heat treatment. Selected casting paramet...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: K. Naplocha, J. Grzęda, O. Trzaska, N. M. Raźny, A. Dmitruk
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Polish Academy of Sciences 2024-09-01
Series:Archives of Metallurgy and Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.pan.pl/Content/132654/AMM-2024-3-14-Naplocha.pdf
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850240372718960640
author K. Naplocha
J. Grzęda
O. Trzaska
N. M. Raźny
A. Dmitruk
author_facet K. Naplocha
J. Grzęda
O. Trzaska
N. M. Raźny
A. Dmitruk
author_sort K. Naplocha
collection DOAJ
description For improving heat transfer in the thermal energy storage system (TES), cast aluminum cellular structures were designed, optimized, and produced by investment casting. The pattern was 3D printed from polylactide (PLA) polymer and then subjected to molding and heat treatment. Selected casting parameters, i.e. temperature of the mold and poured metal, as well as low pressure (vacuum), allowed to production of a complex, thin-walled casting. To evaluate the effectiveness of the structures (enhancers), a lab-scale heat accumulator was constructed and filled with phase change material (PCM) composed of KNO3 and NaNO3 salts. Thermal cycling, including charging and discharging of the accumulator, was analyzed and compared between systems with pure PCM bed and the one equipped with the produced enhancer. To protect aluminum casting against corrosion with molten salts, nickel plating was applied. Process parameters, such as plating process time and nickel subcoating application time, were determined. Microscopic observations confirmed high-quality, continuous coating on aluminum casting surfaces with characteristic microgrooves remaining after the printed pattern.
format Article
id doaj-art-450cfaec2baa467fb8fcdcf419206da4
institution OA Journals
issn 2300-1909
language English
publishDate 2024-09-01
publisher Polish Academy of Sciences
record_format Article
series Archives of Metallurgy and Materials
spelling doaj-art-450cfaec2baa467fb8fcdcf419206da42025-08-20T02:00:52ZengPolish Academy of SciencesArchives of Metallurgy and Materials2300-19092024-09-01vol. 69No 3933942https://doi.org/10.24425/amm.2024.150913Development of Cellular Cast Structures for Improving Heat Transfer in Thermal Energy Storage SystemsK. Naplocha0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0667-6645J. Grzęda1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4493-1977O. Trzaska2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4605-4250N. M. Raźnyhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0062-8338A. Dmitruk3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8450-2088Wroclaw University of Science and Technolog y, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Lightweight Elements Engineering , Foundry, and Automation , 27 Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego Str., 50-370 Wroclaw, PolandWroclaw University of Science and Technolog y, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Lightweight Elements Engineering , Foundry, and Automation , 27 Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego Str., 50-370 Wroclaw, PolandWroclaw University of Science and Technolog y, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Lightweight Elements Engineering , Foundry, and Automation , 27 Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego Str., 50-370 Wroclaw, PolandWroclaw University of Science and Technolog y, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Lightweight Elements Engineering , Foundry, and Automation , 27 Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego Str., 50-370 Wroclaw, PolandFor improving heat transfer in the thermal energy storage system (TES), cast aluminum cellular structures were designed, optimized, and produced by investment casting. The pattern was 3D printed from polylactide (PLA) polymer and then subjected to molding and heat treatment. Selected casting parameters, i.e. temperature of the mold and poured metal, as well as low pressure (vacuum), allowed to production of a complex, thin-walled casting. To evaluate the effectiveness of the structures (enhancers), a lab-scale heat accumulator was constructed and filled with phase change material (PCM) composed of KNO3 and NaNO3 salts. Thermal cycling, including charging and discharging of the accumulator, was analyzed and compared between systems with pure PCM bed and the one equipped with the produced enhancer. To protect aluminum casting against corrosion with molten salts, nickel plating was applied. Process parameters, such as plating process time and nickel subcoating application time, were determined. Microscopic observations confirmed high-quality, continuous coating on aluminum casting surfaces with characteristic microgrooves remaining after the printed pattern.https://journals.pan.pl/Content/132654/AMM-2024-3-14-Naplocha.pdfinvestment castingcellular structurepcm heat storagealuminum alloynickel plating
spellingShingle K. Naplocha
J. Grzęda
O. Trzaska
N. M. Raźny
A. Dmitruk
Development of Cellular Cast Structures for Improving Heat Transfer in Thermal Energy Storage Systems
Archives of Metallurgy and Materials
investment casting
cellular structure
pcm heat storage
aluminum alloy
nickel plating
title Development of Cellular Cast Structures for Improving Heat Transfer in Thermal Energy Storage Systems
title_full Development of Cellular Cast Structures for Improving Heat Transfer in Thermal Energy Storage Systems
title_fullStr Development of Cellular Cast Structures for Improving Heat Transfer in Thermal Energy Storage Systems
title_full_unstemmed Development of Cellular Cast Structures for Improving Heat Transfer in Thermal Energy Storage Systems
title_short Development of Cellular Cast Structures for Improving Heat Transfer in Thermal Energy Storage Systems
title_sort development of cellular cast structures for improving heat transfer in thermal energy storage systems
topic investment casting
cellular structure
pcm heat storage
aluminum alloy
nickel plating
url https://journals.pan.pl/Content/132654/AMM-2024-3-14-Naplocha.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT knaplocha developmentofcellularcaststructuresforimprovingheattransferinthermalenergystoragesystems
AT jgrzeda developmentofcellularcaststructuresforimprovingheattransferinthermalenergystoragesystems
AT otrzaska developmentofcellularcaststructuresforimprovingheattransferinthermalenergystoragesystems
AT nmrazny developmentofcellularcaststructuresforimprovingheattransferinthermalenergystoragesystems
AT admitruk developmentofcellularcaststructuresforimprovingheattransferinthermalenergystoragesystems