Heat transfer fins can be used to improve the operation performance of heat storage tanks using phase change filling material (PCM).Based on the COMSOL software

the effects of annular heat transfer fin’s parameters(fin length

fin thickness and fin angle) on charging performance of a double-tube PCM heat storage tank is preliminarily evaluated.The results show that

when the fin length increases from 1.0 m to 1.2 m

the total melting time of the filling material shortens from 8 h to 5 h.When the fin thickness increases from 40 mm to 60 mm

the total melting time of the filling material decreases from 10 h to about 6 h

and the average charging rate increases from 11.3×10~8 k J/h to 14.8×10~8 k J/h.When the fin angle is–15°

the tank has the shortest total melting time and the maximum average charging rate

which is 14.3×10~8 k J/h.For the double-tube PCM tank investigated in this study

the optimal fin angle is-15°.The results can provide basis for the design of double-tube PCM heat storage tanks for CSP plants.