Inverse geometry problem of estimating the phase front motion of ice in a thermal storage system

Abstract

The moving phase change interface in the latent heat energy storage system is estimated by applying a two-dimensional inverse geometry problem. The energy storage system of the vertical tube type is considered for the present inverse geometry problem. To solve the phase change problem, the boundary element method is adopted. The moving phase change interface is estimated by using the conjugate gradient method. Estimation of the phase front motion is verified by conducting the inverse analysis for an assumed phase front motion. An inverse analysis for the desired temperature distributions is executed to investigate the possibility of desired front motion control or ice monitoring. The effects of the noise levels and the thermocouple spacing on the inverse solutions are also examined.