Desenvolvimento de um modelo de armazenamento de energia térmica usando materiais com mudança de fase para secagem de milho

Abstract

The present work aimed to develop a maize drying system integrated with a thermal energy storage reservoir using phase change materials (PCM), in order to reduce post-harvest losses and increase the energy efficiency of the process. For this purpose, the complete design of the system was carried out, including the maize dryer, the shell-and-tube heat exchanger, the evacuated tube solar collectors, and the PCM reservoir, using RT55 paraffin as the phase change material. A numerical simulation was also performed using COMSOL Multiphysics to analyze the thermal behavior of the PCM during melting and solidification processes. The simulation allowed the observation of the temporal evolution of temperature and liquid fraction, confirming the ability of RT55 paraffin to efficiently store and release heat. The results demonstrated that the proposed system is technically feasible, ensuring suitable temperatures for maize drying and effective utilization of solar energy. The economic and environmental analysis indicated that the system’s implementation can significantly reduce fossil fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions, making it a sustainable and promising solution for the agricultural sector in Mozambique.