release in shell-and-tube heat exchanger units. The results
indicated that a shorter energy storage and release time upon
charging and discharging the PCM existed on the shell side. Choi
and Kim [25] investigated some approaches to augment heat
transfer within an LHS by the use of finned tubes and concluded
that finned tubes increased the effective thermal conductivity of
the phase change material due to the high thermal conductivity of
themetal fins which are similar to those reported by Lacroix [26].
Wadekar [27] found that the charge and discharge times were
reduced considerably in the system of plate heat exchanger.
However, the use of plate heat exchangers remains to be found
only on a limited scale.