Selection of Low-Temperature Phase-Change Materials for Thermal Energy Storage Based on the VIKOR Method

Latent heat thermal energy storage heat exchangers store heat energy by virtue of the phase transition that occurs in the thermal storage media. Since phase change materials (PCMs) are utilized as the media, there is a critical necessity for the appropriate selection of the PCM utilized. Since multiple thermo-physical properties and multiple PCMs are required to be evaluated for the selection, there arises a need for multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) algorithms to be adopted for the selection. But owing to the different weight estimation techniques employed and the voluminous quantity of selection algorithms available, there arises a need for a comparative methodology to be adopted. This study was intended to select an optimal PCM for a sustainable steam cooking application coupled with a thermal energy storage system. In this research study, six PCMs were chosen as the alternatives and five thermo-physical properties were chosen as the criteria for the evaluation. 11 different algorithms were augmented with 3 different weight estimation techniques and therefore a total of 33 algorithms were employed in this study. All of the algorithms have chosen Erythritol as the optimal PCM for the application. The outcomes of the MCDM algorithms have been validated through an intricate Pearson’s correlation coefficient study.

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A novel low-temperature fabrication approach of composite phase change materials for high temperature thermal energy storage

Applied Energy ◽

10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.12.072 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 237 ◽

pp. 367-377 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Qinghua Yu ◽

Zhu Jiang ◽

Lin Cong ◽

Tiejun Lu ◽

Bilyaminu Suleiman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Temperature ◽

Energy Storage ◽

Low Temperature ◽

Phase Change ◽

Thermal Energy ◽

Thermal Energy Storage ◽

Phase Change Materials ◽

Composite Phase Change Materials

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Investigation on compatibility and thermal reliability of phase change materials for low-temperature thermal energy storage

Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy ◽

10.1007/s40243-020-00184-4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Jaya Krishna Devanuri ◽

Uma Maheswararao Gaddala ◽

Vikas Kumar

Keyword(s):

Energy Storage ◽

Low Temperature ◽

Phase Change ◽

Thermal Energy ◽

Thermal Energy Storage ◽

Sodium Acetate ◽

Phase Change Materials ◽

Freezing Point ◽

Thermal Cycles ◽

Thermal Reliability

AbstractTwo of the important aspects for the successful utilization of phase change materials (PCMs) for thermal energy storage systems are compatibility with container materials and stability. Therefore, the present study is focused on testing the corrosion resistance and surface characteristics of metals in contact with PCMs and thermal behavior of PCMs with heating/cooling cycles. The PCM selection is made by targeting low temperature (<100 °C) heat storage applications. The PCMs considered are paraffin wax, sodium acetate tri-hydrate, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid. The metal specimens tested are aluminum, copper, and stainless steel because of their wide usage in thermal equipment. The tests are performed by the method of immersion corrosion test, and ASTM G1 standards are followed. The experiments are carried out at 80 °C and room temperature (30 °C) for the duration of 10, 30, and 60 days. Pertaining to thermal stability 1500 melting/freezing cycles are performed. Investigation has been carried out in terms of corrosion rate, SEM analysis of metal specimens, appearance of PCMs, and variation of thermophysical properties at 0th, 1000th, and 1500th thermal cycles. The most affected area of corrosion, including the dimension of pits, is presented, and comparison is made. Based on the corrosion experiments, recommendations are made for the metal–PCM pairs. Pure sodium acetate trihydrate is observed to suffer from phase segregation and supercooling. After 1500 thermal cycles, the variation in melting and freezing point temperatures for rest of the five PCMs are in the range of − 1.63 to 1.57 °C and − 4.01 to 2.66 °C. Whereas, reduction in latent heat of melting and freezing are in the range of 17.6–28.95% and 15.2–26.78%.

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The Use of Capsuled Paraffin Wax in Low-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage Applications: An Experimental and Numerical Investigation

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14030538 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 538

Author(s):

Agnieszka Ochman ◽

Wei-Qin Chen ◽

Przemysław Błasiak ◽

Michał Pomorski ◽

Sławomir Pietrowicz

Keyword(s):

Phase Transitions ◽

Energy Storage ◽

Low Temperature ◽

Phase Change ◽

Thermal Energy ◽

Thermal Energy Storage ◽

Operating Conditions ◽

Paraffin Wax ◽

Temperature Phase ◽

Maximum Heat

The article deals with the experimental and numerical thermal-flow behaviours of a low-temperature Phase Change Material (PCM) used in Thermal Energy Storage (TES) industrial applications. The investigated PCM is a composition that consists of a mixture of paraffin wax capsuled in a melamine-formaldehyde membrane and water, for which a phase change process occurs within the temperature range of 4 °C to 6 °C and the maximum heat storage capacity is equal to 72 kJ/kg. To test the TES capabilities of the PCM for operating conditions close to real ones, a series of experimental tests were performed on cylindrical modules with fixed heights of 250 mm and different outer diameters of 15, 22, and 28 mm, respectively. The module was tested in a specially designed wind tunnel where the Reynolds numbers of between 15,250 to 52,750 were achieved. In addition, a mathematical model of the analysed processes, based on the enthalpy porosity method, was proposed and validated. The temperature changes during the phase transitions that were obtained from the numerical analyses in comparison with the experimental results have not exceeded 20% of the relative error for the phase change region and no more than 10% for the rest. Additionally, the PCM was examined while using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), which indicated no changes in the internal structure during phase transitions and a homogeneous structure, regardless of the tested temperature ranges.

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