Category: Transient Plane Source
Author(s): M. Li, P. Zhang, X. Xiao
Keywords: composites, Copper, Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), Image processing approach, latent heat, LTES, mass fraction, nickel, Paraffin, paraffin (PA), Paraffin/copper foam, Paraffin/nickel foam, pcms, phase change materials, porosity, Solar energy storage, Steady state method, Thermal Conductivity, thermal energy storage, Transient plane source (TPS), Transient plane source (TPS) method, Vacuum impregnation
Abstract: Paraffin is an excellent phase change material (PCM) for latent heat storage, but it does not efficiently use stored energy because of its low thermal conductivity. In this study, nickel and copper foams were added to paraffin to enhance heat transfer. A Thermal Constants Analyzer measured the thermal conductivity of the paraffin composites using the transient plane source (TPS) method. The addition of copper foam enhanced the thermal conductivity of paraffin by 15 times, and nickel tripled the thermal conductivity. These results can help improve the energy efficiency of latent thermal energy storage (LTES) systems in the future.
Reference: Applied Energy, 112 (2013) 1357-1366
DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.04.050