scholarly journals Triglycerides as Novel Phase-Change Materials: A Review and Assessment of Their Thermal Properties

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (23) ◽  
pp. 5572
Author(s):  
Rebecca Ravotti ◽  
Jörg Worlitschek ◽  
Colin R. Pulham ◽  
Anastasia Stamatiou

Latent Heat Storage (LHS) with Phase-Change Materials (PCMs) represents a high energy density storage technology which could be applied in a variety of applications such as waste heat recovery and integration of renewable energy technologies in energy systems. To increase the sustainability of these storage solutions, PCMs have to be developed with particular regard to bio-origin and biodegradability. Triglycerides represent an interesting class of esters as the main constituents of animal and vegetable fats, with attractive thermal properties. In order to be used as PCMs, the thermal behaviour of triglycerides has to be fully understood, as in some cases they have been reported to show polymorphism and supercooling. This study assesses the suitability of triglycerides as PCMs by reviewing the literature published so far on their behaviour and properties. In particular, melting points, enthalpies of fusion, polymorphism, thermal conductivities, heat capacities and thermal cycling stabilities are considered, with a focus on LHS and thermal energy storage applications. In addition, the efforts conducted regarding modelling and the prediction of melting points and enthalpies based on chemical structures are summarized and assessed.

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Ravotti ◽  
Oliver Fellmann ◽  
Nicolas Lardon ◽  
Ludger Fischer ◽  
Anastasia Stamatiou ◽  
...  

As global energy demand increases while primary sources and fossil fuels’ availability decrease, research has shifted its focus to thermal energy storage systems as alternative technologies able to cover for the mismatch between demand and supply. Among the different phase change materials available, esters possess particularly favorable properties with reported high enthalpies of fusion, low corrosivity, low toxicity, low supercooling, thermal and chemical stability as well as biodegradability and being derived from renewable feedstock. Despite such advantages, little to no data on the thermal behavior of esters is available due to low commercial availability. This study constitutes a continuation of previous works from the authors on the investigation of fatty esters as novel phase change materials. Here, methyl, pentyl and decyl esters of arachidic acid, and pentyl esters of myristic, palmitic, stearic and behenic acid are synthesized through Fischer esterification with high purities and their properties are studied. The chemical structures and purities are confirmed through Attenuated Total Reflectance Infrared Spectroscopy, Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectroscopy and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, while the determination of the thermal properties is performed through Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Thermogravimetric Analysis. In conclusion, some correlations between the melting temperatures and the chemical structures are discovered, and the fatty esters are assessed based on their suitability as phase change materials for latent heat storage applications.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert Ioan Tudor ◽  
Adrian Mihail Motoc ◽  
Cristina Florentina Ciobota ◽  
Dan. Nastase Ciobota ◽  
Radu Robert Piticescu ◽  
...  

Thermal energy storage systems using phase change materials (PCMs) as latent heat storage are one of the main challenges at European level in improving the performances and efficiency of concentrated solar power energy generation due to their high energy density. PCM with high working temperatures in the temperature range 300–500 °C are required for these purposes. However their use is still limited due to the problems raised by the corrosion of the majority of high temperature PCMs and lower thermal transfer properties. Micro-encapsulation was proposed as one method to overcome these problems. Different micro-encapsulation methods proposed in the literature are presented and discussed. An original process for the micro-encapsulation of potassium nitrate as PCM in inorganic zinc oxide shells based on a solvothermal method followed by spray drying to produce microcapsules with controlled phase composition and distribution is proposed and their transformation temperatures and enthalpies measured by differential scanning calorimetry are presented.


Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (19) ◽  
pp. 3169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel Serrano ◽  
Jean-Luc Dauvergne ◽  
Stefania Doppiu ◽  
Elena Palomo Del Barrio

The present work explores the feasibility of using polyalcohols with solid-solid phase transition as active supporting matrix of n-alkanes in shape-stabilized phase change materials (SSPCMs). It is well-established that the use of SSPCM avoids leakage and increases stability and easy handling of solid-liquid PCMs. Nevertheless, the resulting composite exhibits a loss of heat storage capacity due to the volume occupied by the supporting material, which does not contribute to latent heat storage. Therefore, the objective of this work is to combine solid-liquid PCMs (alkanes) with solid-solid PCMs (polyalcohols), both exhibiting a phase transition in the same range of temperature, to obtain high energy density SSPCMs. Towards that goal, the performance of Neopentyl Glycol (NPG) and Docosane as a new energetic SSPCM has been proved. The NPG-Docosane chemical compatibility and its outstanding wettability facilitate the propitious association of both materials. The higher capillary forces obtained by decreasing the NPG crystal size together with the addition of expanded graphite (EG) allowed to obtain a maximum Docosane content of 60 wt%. The addition of EG improves the shape stability at the time that increases the heat transfer properties of the composites. The analysis showed that the components of the obtained SSPCMs are able to combine their latent heats, achieving a maximum value of 210.74 J/g for the highest Docosane content. This value is much higher than those latent heats exhibited by existing SSPCMs in the same working temperature range.


Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 810
Author(s):  
Rebecca Ravotti ◽  
Oliver Fellmann ◽  
Ludger J. Fischer ◽  
Jörg Worlitschek ◽  
Anastasia Stamatiou

Esters present several advantages when compared to traditional materials used for thermal energy storage, amongst which are better sustainability and greater chemical stability. However, at present, their thermal properties remain mostly unknown or not well documented. In this study, 12 diesters from four dicarboxylic acids (oxalic, succinic, suberic, sebacic) and three alcohols (methanol, 1-pentanol, 1-decanol) have been assessed as bio-based phase change materials for thermal energy storage. All diesters have been synthesized via Fischer esterification to high purities, and their chemical structures, as well as thermal properties, have been fully characterized. The diesters investigated show phase change transitions in a low–mid temperature range between −32 and 46 °C with maximum enthalpies of 172 J/g and show higher degrees of supercooling compared to fatty monoesters. Similarly to other esters classes, some trends correlating the chemical structures to the thermal properties were identified, which would allow for the development of property prediction tools.


Crystals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 919
Author(s):  
Rebecca Ravotti ◽  
Oliver Fellmann ◽  
Ludger J. Fischer ◽  
Jörg Worlitschek ◽  
Anastasia Stamatiou

In the quest for a decarbonized energy system, the development of highly efficient technologies that allow the integration of renewables is of the utmost importance. Latent Heat Storage systems with Phase Change Materials (PCM) can contribute to solving the issue of the mismatch between demand and supply brought forward by renewable energies. Despite possessing promising thermal properties, organic PCMs and esters in particular have rarely been investigated. In the present study, eight commercial aromatic esters are assessed as possible PCM candidates. To do so, their thermal properties, such as phase change temperature, enthalpy of fusion, density, and thermal conductivity, alongside sustainability and toxicity issues, are considered. The aromatic esters are found to possess phase change temperatures between −16 ∘C and 190 ∘C and maximum enthalpies of fusion of 160 J/g. This, alongside densities above 1 g/mL, makes them interesting candidates for high-temperature applications, where, typically, salts and ceramics or metals dominate as PCMs.


Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 1300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Ravotti ◽  
Oliver Fellmann ◽  
Nicolas Lardon ◽  
Ludger Fischer ◽  
Anastasia Stamatiou ◽  
...  

In the presented work, five bio-based and bio-degradable cyclic esters, i.e. lactones, have been investigated as possible phase change materials for applications in latent heat storage systems. Commercial natural lactones such as ε-caprolactone and γ-valerolactone were easily purchased through chemical suppliers, while 1,2-campholide, oxa-adamantanone and dibenzochromen-6-one were synthesized through Baeyer-Villiger oxidation. The compounds were characterized with respect to attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy, in order to confirm their chemical structures and identity. Subsequently, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry were used to measure the phase change temperatures, enthalpies of fusion, degradation temperatures, as well to estimate the degree of supercooling. The lactones showed a wide range of phase change temperatures from −40 °C to 290 °C, making them a high interest for both low and high temperature latent heat storage applications, given the lack of organic phase change materials covering phase change temperature ranges below 0 °C and above 80 °C. However, low enthalpies of fusion, high degrees of supercooling and thermal degradations at low temperatures were registered for all samples, rendering them unsuitable as phase change materials.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olakunle F Isamotu ◽  
Nicholas A Musa ◽  
Joshua B Aluko ◽  
Maclawrence A Oriaifo

Latent heat storage in salt mixture has drawn so much attention because of the salt mixture’s capability of storing   large quantity of heat when compared to single salt thereby, making it more feasible for use as phase change material.  However it is worthwhile to find out among various combination of salts forming eutectic   mixtures, the one that has the best energy storage capability by evaluating   and comparing their melting points and latent heat storage. So in this research work, four different types of eutectic mixture of   salts were prepared and experimentally   investigated for the best thermal energy storage capability.  The first eutectic mixture consists of 2.6g of LiNO3, 6.4g of NH4NO3   and 1g of NaNO3. The second eutectic mixture consists of1.75g of LiNO3,   3.9g of NH4NO3 and 1.1g of KNO3. The third one consists of 5.2g of   LiNO3, 13.7g   of NH4NO3 and 1g of NH4Cl) and the fourth one consists of 1.77g of LiNO3, 2.94g of NH4NO3,  1g of NaNO3 and 1g of NaCl. The latent heat and the melting point of the respective salt and their eutectic mixture were determined using digital differential scanning Apparatus.  The results obtained showed that the melting points and latent heats of  the first, second, third and fourth eutectic mixture  were 79.50C and 112kJ/kg,  80.50C and 114kJ/kg,  81.40C and 109kJ/kg,  84.40C and 119kJ/kg respectively.  In view of this, the eutectic mixture of 1.77g of LiNO3, 2.94g of NH4NO3, 1g of NaNO3 and 1g of NaCl with melting point of 84.40C and latent heat of 119KJ/Kg was found to possess the best thermal energy storage capability compared to others..Keywords—Eutectic mixture, Salts, Phase change materials (PCM), Latent heat storage


2009 ◽  
Vol 131 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Viktoria Martin ◽  
Fredrik Setterwall

Energy and cost efficient solar hot water systems require some sort of integrated storage, with high energy density and high power capacity for charging and discharging being desirable properties of the storage. This paper presents the results and conclusions from the design, and experimental performance evaluation of high capacity thermal energy storage using so-called phase change materials (PCMs) as the storage media. A 140 l 15 kW  h storage prototype was designed, built, and experimentally evaluated. The storage tank was directly filled with the PCM having its phase change temperature at 58°C. A tube heat exchanger for charging and discharging with water was submerged in the PCM. Results from the experimental evaluation showed that hot water can be provided with a temperature of 40°C for more than 2 h at an average power of 3 kW. The experimental results also show that it is possible to charge the 140 l storage with close to the theoretically calculated value of 15 kW h. Hence, this is a PCM storage solution with a storage capacity of over 100 kW h/m3, and an average power capacity during discharging of over 20 kW/m3. However, it is desirable to increase the heat transfer rate within the prototype. A predesign of using a finned-tube coil instead of an unfinned coil show that by using finned tube, the power capacity for discharging can be at least doubled, if not tripled.


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