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Effect of fins in enhancing phase change material fusion in a spherical thermal energy storage container
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  • Published: 12 February 2026

Effect of fins in enhancing phase change material fusion in a spherical thermal energy storage container

  • Banumathi Munuswamy Swami Punniakodi1,
  • M. Veeramanikandan2,
  • M. Manickam3,
  • A. Arunkumar4,
  • Dhinesh Balasubramanian5,
  • Utku Kale6,7,
  • Artūras Kilikevičius7 &
  • …
  • Vilma Locaitienė5 

Scientific Reports , Article number:  (2026) Cite this article

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We are providing an unedited version of this manuscript to give early access to its findings. Before final publication, the manuscript will undergo further editing. Please note there may be errors present which affect the content, and all legal disclaimers apply.

Subjects

  • Energy science and technology
  • Engineering
  • Materials science

Abstract

The increased depletion of fossil fuels needs alternatives like solar energy to address daily demands. However, solar energy is intermittent, hence it is integrated with thermal energy storage (TES) systems. Phase change materials (PCM) are used in TES systems, but they suffer from meagre thermal conductivity, leading to less fusion. This study enhances PCM fusion using four different cases, namely, case 1 (without fins), case 2 (with two fins placed near the top), case 3 (with two fins placed near the bottom), and case 4 (with two fins placed near the top and bottom), respectively. The study is done with heat transfer fluid (HTF) temperature at 70 °C and 75 °C with a 30 LPH flow rate. Case 4 displayed a melting time reduction of 34%, and 47.7% when compared with case 1. It is also found with high thermal efficiency and effectiveness. The results indicate that case 4 is effective in expediting fusion and enhancing storage performance due to optimal fin placement, hence suggested for solar applications.

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Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Abbreviations

HTF:

Heat transfer fluid

PCM:

Phase change material

TES:

Thermal energy storage

\(\:\dot{m}\) :

Mass flow rate (kg. sec−1)

Cpl :

Liquid PCM specific heat capacity (kJ. kg−1. K−1)

Cps :

Solid PCM specific heat capacity (kJ. kg−1. K−1)

Cpw :

Water specific heat capacity (kJ. kg−1. K−1)

Fi :

Melt fraction

K:

PCM thermal conductivity (W. m−1. K−1)

L:

Latent heat (kJ. kg−1)

m:

Mass (kg)

Qin :

Heat supplied (kW)

t:

Time (sec)

Tini :

PCM initial temperature (K)

Tl :

Liquidus temperature (K)

Tpcm :

PCM temperature (K)

Ts :

Solidus temperature (K)

Twi :

HTF inlet temperature (K)

Two :

HTF outlet temperature (K)

\(\eta\) :

Efficiency

ϵ:

Effectiveness

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Acknowledgements

Authors would like to thank SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Ramapuram Campus, Chennai, for providing all technical and administrative supports in completing this research work in a successful manner.

Funding

Open access funding provided by Budapest University of Technology and Economics.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. SD Industrial Works, Chennai, Tamil Nadu , India

    Banumathi Munuswamy Swami Punniakodi

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Ramapuram Campus, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

    M. Veeramanikandan

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan University, Samayapuram, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, India

    M. Manickam

  4. Department of Mechanical Engineering, E.G.S. Pillay Engineering College, Nagapattinam, Tamilnadu, India

    A. Arunkumar

  5. Department of Port Engineering, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuanian Maritime Academy (LMA), Klaipėda, Lithuania

    Dhinesh Balasubramanian & Vilma Locaitienė

  6. Department of Aeronautics and Naval Architecture, Faculty of Transportation Engineering and Vehicle Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3., Budapest, H-1111, Hungary

    Utku Kale

  7. Mechanical Science Institute, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Plytinės g. 25, LT-10105, Vilnius, Lithuania

    Utku Kale & Artūras Kilikevičius

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B.M.S.P., M.V., M.M., A.A., D.B., U.K., A.K., and V.L. wrote the main manuscript text . All authors reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Banumathi Munuswamy Swami Punniakodi, Dhinesh Balasubramanian or Utku Kale.

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Swami Punniakodi, B.M., Veeramanikandan, M., Manickam, M. et al. Effect of fins in enhancing phase change material fusion in a spherical thermal energy storage container. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-38262-8

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  • Received: 28 August 2025

  • Accepted: 29 January 2026

  • Published: 12 February 2026

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-38262-8

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Keywords

  • Finned spherical container
  • Thermal energy storage
  • Phase change material
  • Heat storage/release
  • Heat transfer fluid
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