The　poor　performance　of　phase　change　materials　(PCMs)　in　thermal　conductivity　constrains　the　widespread　application　of　latent　heat　storage　units　(LHSUs)　in　engineering　while　the　low　bulk　density　and　large　specificity　of　copper　foam　make　it　an　ideal　choice　to　solve　this　problem.　This　study　proposes　a　new　LHSU　which　is　based　on　multichannel　flat　tube　and　copper　foam.　With　water　as　the　heat　transfer　fluid　(HTF),　copper　foam　is　applied　to　enhance　the　heat　performance　of　PCM　(paraffin).　The　ratio　of　the　heat　exchange　area　to　the　PCM　volume　of　this　unit　is　576.3　1/m,　and　the　compactness　factor　is　71.8%.　In　order　to　evaluate　the　performance　of　this　unit,　a　study　is　conducted　on　different　HTF　injection　modes,　the　distribution　of　PCM　temperature　at　different　inlet　temperatures　and　HTF　flow　rates,　charge/discharge　power,　and　the　effectiveness　of　LHSU.　According　to　the　results,　bottom　injection　is　the　optimal　HTF　injection　method　in　the　charge　and　discharge　processes.　The　average　effectiveness　during　the　charge　and　discharge　processes　reaches　up　to　0.383　and　0.409,　respectively.　Compared　with　the　traditional　coil　type　LHSU,　the　unit　proposed　in　this　research　performs　better　in　heat　transfer　performance.　©　2020　Elsevier　Ltd