CFD-Based Transient Numerical Analysis of Latent Heat Storage in a Porous Packed Bed Using Local Thermal Non-Equilibrium Model
Lahcen EL-MAHAOUCHI, Mourad YESSEF, Hamza EL HAFDAOUI, Ahmed FAIZE, Elhadi BAGHAZ, Ahmed LAGRIOUI
Abstract. Thermal energy storage (TES) technologies are attracting increasing interest from energy storage researchers and professionals. They enable energy to be stored effectively and the difference between supply and demand to be corrected for longer periods and at lower cost. This paper reports on the numerical modeling and thermal behavior analyzing of a latent packed bed thermal energy storage tank using spherical capsules of paraffin as storage medium (phase change material – PCM) and water as heat transfer fluid (HTF). The TES tank was modeled, in a 2D axisymmetric geometry, and simulated using COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tool. The transient thermal behaviors for HTF and PCM were solved separately using Local Thermal Non-Equilibrium (LTNE) approach. The results were compared with the experimental data and showed a close agreement, assuring the reliability of the present model. The temperature profiles, the thermocline behavior and the state of charge of the TES tank, during the charging process, were presented and discussed, which constitute key parameters to analyze the TES system’s thermal behavior and optimize its performances.
Keywords
Thermal Energy Storage Systems, Latent Heat Storage, Phase Change Material – PCM, Packed Bed Heat Storage Technologies, CFD, Local Thermal Non-Equilibrium -LTNE
Published online 4/25/2026, 8 pages
Copyright © 2026 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Lahcen EL-MAHAOUCHI, Mourad YESSEF, Hamza EL HAFDAOUI, Ahmed FAIZE, Elhadi BAGHAZ, Ahmed LAGRIOUI, CFD-Based Transient Numerical Analysis of Latent Heat Storage in a Porous Packed Bed Using Local Thermal Non-Equilibrium Model, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 64, pp 599-606, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644904091-75
The article was published as article 75 of the book Energy Futures
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
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