In order to improve the poor thermal conductivity and long-term heat storage of paraffin as a phase change material (PCM)

this study placed copper foam into a cylindrical heat storage device filled with paraffin. Three cases were designed

namely

the vertical distribution of copper foam in the radius direction of the cross section

distribution along the radius direction of the cross section

and distribution along the horizontal direction of the cross section. The influence of different layout cases on the heat transfer of paraffin-based PCM and the heat release characteristics of paraffin/metal copper foam composites were studied. The experimental results show that the addition of copper foamed metal shortens the solidification time of paraffin. The solidification time of case 1 and case 3 is shortened by five minutes

and the solidification time of case 2 was shortened by four minutes. Simultaneously

the temperature uniformity of the paraffin at different positions was improved. The temperature fluctuation of case 1 in the outer ring measurement point is 33% and 50% of those of cases 2 and 3

respectively. The effective heat release of Case 1 is 2.2% higher than that of Case 2

and the heat release efficiency increases by 5.05%. The effective heat release of Case 1 is 1.1% higher than that of Case 3

and the heat release efficiency increases by 2.01%. The heat transfer efficiency of case 1 is maintained at more than 70%

and the heat transfer effect with cold fluid is the best

which is the optimal layout case.