Correction of the enthalpy–temperature curve of phase change materials obtained from the T-History method based on a transient heat conduction model

Utilizing the latent heat of materials undergoing phase transitions, or so called phase change materials (PCMs), for thermal energy storage offers higher storage densities compared to purely sensible thermal energy storages. For evaluating different PCMs the T-History method has often been applied by researchers in order to determine the characteristic enthalpy versus temperature curves. In previous research many different T-History setups are described where the sample holder is insulated. The intention is to decrease internal temperature gradients inside the sample holder with PCM. However, in the mathematical model for evaluating the enthalpy curve of the PCM based on the measured temperature response, the thermal mass of the insulation around the sample holder has been neglected. In this study, a one dimensional numerical transient heat transfer model is used to show that neglecting the insulation thermal mass leads to a systematic error on the obtained enthalpy versus temperature curves. The error is caused by deviations in the transient heat flows for reference and PCM sample when both are cooled down or heated, respectively. These deviations can be corrected by introducing a correction factor.

[1]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  Immersion corrosion tests on metal‐salt hydrate pairs used for latent heat storage in the 32 to 36°C temperature range , 2001 .

[2]  L. Cabeza,et al.  Review of the T-history method to determine thermophysical properties of phase change materials (PCM) , 2013 .

[3]  L. Cabeza,et al.  Heat and cold storage with PCM: An up to date introduction into basics and applications , 2008 .

[4]  Michaël Kummert,et al.  Assessment of T-History Method Variants to Obtain Enthalpy–Temperature Curves for Phase Change Materials With Significant Subcooling , 2015 .

[5]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  Unconventional experimental technologies available for phase change materials (PCM) characterization. Part 1. Thermophysical properties , 2015 .

[6]  A. Sharma,et al.  Review on thermal energy storage with phase change materials and applications , 2009 .

[7]  Determination of heat capacity by means of longitudinal guarded comparative calorimeter – Correction methods , 2016 .

[8]  Zhang Yinping,et al.  A simple method, the -history method, of determining the heat of fusion, specific heat and thermal conductivity of phase-change materials , 1999 .

[9]  Stefan Hiebler,et al.  Calibration of a T-History calorimeter to measure enthalpy curves of phase change materials in the temperature range from 40 to 200 °C , 2014 .

[10]  Viktoria Martin,et al.  Submerged finned heat exchanger latent heat storage design and its experimental verification , 2012 .

[11]  NingWei Justin Chiu.  Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage for Indoor Comfort Control , 2013 .

[12]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  Corrosion of metal containers for use in PCM energy storage , 2015 .

[13]  Javier Mazo,et al.  A theoretical study on the accuracy of the T-history method for enthalpy–temperature curve measurement: analysis of the influence of thermal gradients inside T-history samples , 2015 .

[14]  L. Cabeza,et al.  Intercomparative tests on phase change materials characterisation with differential scanning calorimeter , 2013 .

[15]  Viktoria Martin,et al.  Polyols as phase change materials for surplus thermal energy storage , 2016 .

[16]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  Materials used as PCM in thermal energy storage in buildings: A review , 2011 .

[17]  L. Cabeza,et al.  Determination of enthalpy?temperature curves of phase change materials with the temperature-history method: improvement to temperature dependent properties , 2003 .

[18]  Chris Bales,et al.  Combining thermal energy storage with buildings – a review , 2015 .

[19]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  Review on thermal energy storage with phase change: materials, heat transfer analysis and applications , 2003 .

[20]  Stefan Hiebler,et al.  Kalorimetrische Methoden zur Bestimmung der Enthalpie von Latentwärmespeichermaterialien während des Phasenübergangs , 2007 .

[21]  Panayiotis A. Kyriacou,et al.  Improved measurement technique for the characterization of organic and inorganic phase change materials using the T-history method , 2013 .

[22]  Hiki Hong,et al.  A study of accurate latent heat measurement for a PCM with a low melting temperature using T-history method , 2006 .

[23]  Jose M. Marin,et al.  Verification of a T-history installation to measure enthalpy versus temperature curves of phase change materials , 2006 .