Energy storage composite with an organic PCM

doi:10.1016/0165-1633(89)90058-0

Solar Energy Materials

Volume 18, Issue 6, June 1989, Pages 333-341

https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-1633(89)90058-0 Get rights and content

Abstract

This research work is primarily aimed at exploring possibilities of storing an organic phase change material (PCM) in a new kind of composite. Phase change materials have previously been successfully impregnated in gypsum wallboard. During the present research, certain aggregate and filler materials were selected after detailed laboratory study as possible constituents of the proposed composite. Absorption of PCM and retention there-of in materials like expanded shale, volcanic rock, activated charcoal, gypsum and vermiculite was determined. Composite specimens were prepared using coarse aggregates, gypsum, cement, sawdust and vermiculite and sand with water. Several mix compositions with different proportions of these materials were prepared. These gypsum/cement concrete specimens were cured, dried and impregnated with PCM. The absorption capacities of PCM in the specimens were determined and compressive strength tests, differential scanning calorimetry analysis, infrared spectroscopy and thermal conductivity tests performed.

The composite, depending on the mix composition, is capable of storing up to 30 wt% of PCM. In order to ensure complete encapsulation of PCM, the composite specimens were coated with a film of polyester resin. This, however, resulted in lowering of the heat transfer capability of the composite. Thermal conductivity tests showed great improvement on introduction of aluminum or lignin powders in the resin. The composite can be produced in the form of floor, wall or ceiling tiles capable of storing energy up to 766 kJ/m².

References (9)

M.M. Shapiro et al.
Passive Solar J.
(1987)
M.M. Shapiro et al.
Solar Today
(January/February 1988)
S.F. Faunce et al.S.F. Faunce et al.
C. Haver et al.

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (50)

Biosourced organic materials for latent heat storage: An economic and eco-friendly alternative
2019, Energy
This work deals with the study of bio-sourced organic Phase change materials (BO-PCM) to replace petroleum-based ones currently in use in an installation coupling a Heat Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system with a module of Thermal Energy Storage (TES). The most adapted ones are selected to reduce their cost and their environmental impact while ensuring a satisfactory operation and an excellent energy efficiency of the building in which they are integrated. The screening step leads to the identification of the BO-PCM criteria of interest, their non-comprehensive listing relying on an accelerated screening based on infrared thermography and the refinement of the results obtained with Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Two eutectic mixtures of fatty acids (88% capric acid and 12% palmitic acid) and another one (83% capric acid and 17% myristic acid) are identified as promising economic and eco-friendly alternatives. Presenting crystallization/meting temperatures in the 24.58–26.10 °C and 21.36–24.14 °C range respectively, these 2 BO-PCM could compete with petroleum-based ones as latent heat storage material in the HVAC-TES prototype due to their interesting thermophysical properties, their low-cost, their low hazard, their renewable origin and their energy density in the range of the three petroleum-based PCM currently in use in this prototype.
Review of latent heat thermal energy storage for improved material stability and effective load management
2018, Journal of Energy Storage
Citation Excerpt :
Organic compounds have the ability of congruent melting and have high storage density within small melting and freezing temperature difference. They are available in a wide range of temperature applications [29]. Organic PCMs are classified as paraffin wax and fatty acids.
Thermal energy storage is important to counter balance demand and supply of energy and maintain balance in the system and boost the use of intermittent renewable energy source. Phase change material-based thermal energy storage has massive potential to substitute large-scale energy demand and assist both economic and environmental benefits. This paper reviews functional principle, thermophysical properties and other material characteristics of different phase change materials for thermal energy storage system. Long-term stability of phase change material and its interaction with storage container have been discussed. Various heat transfer and thermal conductivity enhancement technique to enhance latent thermal energy storage system have been discussed. The paper also examines the schematics of some of the proposed & tested systems and describes the results of prototype setup for thermal load management and application in water heating system and buildings. The paper also summarizes energy and exergy analysis of some thermal energy storage systems.
Study of Phase Change materials and its domestic application
2018, Materials Today: Proceedings
Phase change materials (PCMs) are utilized effectively for the purpose of storage of thermal energy. It provides certain advantages such as isothermal storage process and high energy storage density. A large number of phase change materials in a wide range of temperatures are being researched upon for making them useful and employable in latent heat storage systems for different purposes. The desirable and undesirable qualities of different types of PCM have been included in the paper to give the readers an insight into what qualities are required in a PCM to be useful for different practical applications. Various applications of PCMs in solar air heater and water heater, solar greenhouse, solar cooker, trombe wall and wallboards are discussed and their uses in refrigeration have also been reported in this paper.
Experimental investigation and numerical evaluation of adoption of multi- layered wall with vacuum insulation panel for typical Mediterranean climate
2017, Energy and Buildings
Citation Excerpt :
Results show that the thermal conductivity and diffusivity of are 0.033 W/(m K) and 5.8 10^–3 m2/h for samples of waste linter; these are 0.039 W/(m K) and about 3.8 10^−3 m2/h for samples of table cloth. PCMs also seem a suitable solution to improve thermal mass of materials or existing wall [11,12] and some testing activities have demonstrated that the PCM addition can determine also a reduction in the thermal conductivity of gypsum and Portland cement matrix [13]. Among materials with high potentialities in building sector, the vacuum insulation panels are an emerging solution, because they are thinner, lighter and more energy efficient than conventional insulation materials.
This study is focused on the evaluation of the effectiveness of vacuum insulation panel (VIP) for typical Mediterranean climate. The interest for this material is due to indisputable advantages in term of insulation performance both for new and refurbished buildings; mainly in retrofit design, adoption of lower thickness assure same results with less invasive interventions. The problem is the behavior during the summer period, not investigated in the available scientific literature.
Numerical and experimental approaches are used in this paper to compare the performance of several wall packages integrating VIP with constructive technologies that result in different stationary and dynamic parameters. More in detail the results of a yearly measurement campaign in three real building of south Italy are presented; recorded data of the surface and the mean air temperatures as well as of the heat flux are commented. Data for one typical week of each season are evaluated to compare the wall made of concrete block and vacuum insulation material with a massive structure and also with a concrete wall with expanded polystyrene as insulation material. Furthermore, simulation results (by means of EnergyPlus) are presented to study, mainly during the summer, the effect of integration of vacuum insulation panel in multi-layered wall made of concrete blocks with different values of density and thermal conductivity; moreover these configurations are compared with a wall made of innovative insulated interlocking brick and with the wall types considered in the experimental phase. Using a typical office building as case study, energy consumptions and environmental and economic indexes are valuated.
Experimental and numerical results show the effectiveness of solution with VIPs also for Mediterranean climate.
Solar thermal energy storage and heat pumps with phase change materials
2016, Applied Thermal Engineering
Latent energy storage with PCMs integrated buildings application is facing an increasing interest. The charging and discharging processes during phase change and heat transfer affect the technological and market readiness of such systems. This review paper approaches the significant processes taking place during phase transition, the recent advantages and the appropriate PCMs in the range of buildings operation conditions.
The critical mechanisms in heat transfer augmentation are examined while the recent state of the art methods is reported. The applications are classified in such a way to better reflect the effect of latent energy storage to the indirect and direct heat pump energy consumption, respectively.
A metadata analysis on the models that are used to formulate the moving boundary processes and the key efficiency factors appearing in the applications are resumed. The current research in the era of standardization and verification, the nanostructures incorporated in phase change materials and the integration in solar hybrid systems define the roadmap in building passive and active applications.
Literature review on the use of phase change materials in glazing and shading solutions
2016, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
Citation Excerpt :
There are three main methods for the direct impregnation and incorporation of PCM into other components/materials [35]: during the manufacturing, after the manufacturing and based on a mixing slurry [44,45]. The procedure for one of the PCM incorporation method is described by Feldman, Khan [44]. The shape-stabilized PCM (SSPCM) makes use of a mixing slurry that is composed by supporting materials (matrix) and working substances that incorporate the phase change material [34].
The large energy consumption of the building sector is mainly resourcing to active systems for cooling and heating of indoor spaces. According this, the external envelopes of offices and commercial buildings are systematically composed by large glazed areas that lead to high energy losses in the winter and large solar gains in summer.
The incorporation of phase change materials into building elements is a growing trend for improving the thermal energy storage capacity in the latent form and the thermal inertia. Thermal Energy Storage systems (TES), using phase change materials (PCM) in buildings, are widely investigated technologies and a fast developing research area. Therefore, there is a lack of publish research reviews on PCM solutions applied into glazed areas.
This review focuses on PCM technologies developed for the translucent and transparent building envelope, such as windows, shutters and other shading devices. This review gives special attention to describe and to discuss the thermal properties, the energy storage and the saving potentials of innovative PCM solutions and presents the main results of research carried out on this domain. The most used strategy to apply the PCM into these building elements is the direct incorporation using macro capsules containers (composed by different materials).
The main conclusions taken from the research studies on prototype solutions show the PCM potential to enhance the thermal performance of buildings through the glazing and shading devices. This studies show that the PCM technology applied to the glazed areas of the building envelope can significantly improve the energy efficiency, and with the reduction of the product costs this technology will appear soon into the typical building construction systems.

View all citing articles on Scopus

View full text

Energy storage composite with an organic PCM

Abstract

Passive Solar J.

Solar Today