articleJournal of Energy StorageJan 8, 2026HYBRID OA

Biomimetic fractal fins for enhanced thermal performance in fin-and-tube latent heat energy storage

BKBabak KamkariAMAjay Muraleedharan NairRVRahul Velanparambil RavindranDCDonal CotterCWChristopher Wilson
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Abstract

This study experimentally investigates the thermal performance of a novel biomimetic fractal-fin configuration designed to overcome the low thermal conductivity of phase change materials (PCMs) in latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) systems. Two heat exchangers with identical copper tube layouts, fin mass, and PCM volume were fabricated to isolate the effect of fin geometry: a benchmark design using conventional planar fins and a novel configuration employing a branched fractal-fin structure. Experiments were conducted at charging inlet temperatures ranging from 65 to 75 °C and discharging inlet temperatures from 10 to 20 °C, with heat transfer fluid flow rates of 1.0 to 2.0 L/min. The fractal-fin…

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4
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100%
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6

Topics & keywords

Topics
Keywords
  • Fin
  • Heat exchanger
  • Thermal conductivity
  • Thermal energy storage
  • Phase-change material
  • Thermal
  • Heat transfer
  • Thermal resistance
UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Affordable and clean energy
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