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In this paper, a numerical investigation as well as a comparison among multi tube heat exchangers is carried out for which variations of both geometrical and operational parameters are studied. The internal part of the shell is filled with RT35 as the phase change material which is heated by the heat transfer fluid (HTF) carrying inner tubes. This paper studies the effect of number of the tubes as well as their arrangement as geometrical parameters on liquid fraction, phase front and melting time. The details of the process progression are presented via liquid fraction contours and streamlines. The effective operational parameters considered are inlet temperature and flow rate of the HTF. Results show that conduction is the dominant heat transfer mechanism at initial stages of the melting process which is proceeded by a convection dominated interval. As the number of tubes increase, the contact surface between PCM …