Effect of carbon nanospheres on shape stabilization and thermal behavior of phase change materials for thermal energy storage

Mohammad Mehrali*, Sara Tahan Latibari, Mehdi Mehrali, Teuku Meurah Indra Mahlia, Hendrik Simon Cornelis Metselaar

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

90 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Stearic acid (SA) is one of the main phase change materials (PCMs) for medium temperature thermal energy storage systems. In order to stabilize the shape and enhance the thermal conductivity of SA, the effects of adding carbon nanospheres (CNSs) as a carbon nanofiller were examined experimentally. The maximum mass fraction of SA retained in CNSs was found as 80 wt% without the leakage of SA in a melted state, even when it was heated over the melting point of SA. The dropping point test shows that there was clearly no liquid leakage through the phase change process at the operating temperature range of the composite PCMs. The thermal stability and thermal properties of composite PCMs were investigated with a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), respectively. The thermal conductivity of the SA/CNS composite was determined by the laser flash method. The thermal conductivity at 35 °C increased about 105% for the highest loading of CNS (50 wt%). The thermal cycling test proved that form-stable composite PCMs had good thermal reliability and chemical durability after 1000 cycles of melting and freezing, which is advantageous for latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)206-213
Number of pages8
JournalEnergy conversion and management
Volume88
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Carbon nanospheres
  • Phase change materials
  • Thermal conductivity
  • Thermal energy storage

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