Natural Convection Melting Influence on the Thermal Resistance of a Brick Partially Filled with Phase Change Material

The constant growth of urban agglomerations with the development of transport networks requires the optimal use of energy and new ways of storing it. Energy efficiency is becoming one of the main challenges of modern engineering. The use of phase change materials in construction expands the possibilities of accumulating and storing solar energy, as well as reducing energy consumption. In this study, we consider the problem of the effect of natural convection on heat transfer in a building block containing a phase change material. Heat transfer, taking into account melting in brick, was analyzed at various temperature differences. The mathematical model was formulated in the form of time-dependent equations of conjugate natural convection using non-dimensional stream function, vorticity, and temperature. The equations describing melting, taking into account natural convection, were solved using the finite difference method. Smoothing parameters were used to describe phase transitions in the material. As a result of calculations, local characteristics of heat and mass transfer at various points in time were obtained, as well as changes in temperature profiles on the side surfaces. It is shown that with a large volume of melt, natural convection increases heat loss by more than 10%.