Effect of Polyethylene Glycol and Activated Carbon Macroparticles on Thermal Conductivity of Paraffin Wax for Thermal Storage Applications

Low thermal conductivity is the major obstacle for the wide range utilization of phase change materials (PCMs), especially organic PCMs, for most practical applications in thermal engineering. This study investigates the potential of enhancing the charging and discharging rates of organic PCM (RT44HC) by introducing polyethylene glycol (PEG) and activated carbon macroparticles (ACMPs). Different concentrations of PEG and ACMPs ranging from 0.3 wt% to 2 wt% were tested separately. The optimized concentrations found were used as dual reinforcements to attain the highest possible thermal conductivity. The specimens were tested for a complete charging–discharging cycle using an improvised thermal apparatus. Use of ACMP alone resulted in a minimal reduction in complete charging–discharging time due to the settlement of ACMPs at the bottom after 2–3 heating–cooling cycles. However, the addition of PEG with ACMPs exhibited a reduction in charging–discharging time due to the formation of a stable dispersion. PEG served as a stabilizing agent for ACMPs. The lowest charging–discharging time of 180 min was exhibited by specimens containing 1 wt% PEG and 0.5 wt% ACMPs which is 25% lower compared to bare PCM.

[1]  J. Selvaraj,et al.  Thermal conductivity, reliability, and stability assessment of phase change material (PCM) doped with functionalized multi-wall carbon nanotubes (FMWCNTs) , 2022, Journal of Energy Storage.

[2]  Khurram Altaf,et al.  Recent advancements in latent heat phase change materials and their applications for thermal energy storage and buildings: A state of the art review , 2022, Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments.

[3]  J. Selvaraj,et al.  Silicon Particles/Black Paint Coating for Performance Enhancement of Solar Absorbers , 2021, Energies.

[4]  W. King,et al.  Phase change material-based thermal energy storage , 2021, Cell Reports Physical Science.

[5]  W. Ahmed,et al.  Heat transfer growth of sonochemically synthesized novel mixed metal oxide ZnO+Al2O3+TiO2/DW based ternary hybrid nanofluids in a square flow conduit , 2021, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.

[6]  Arun Kumar Pandey,et al.  Real time experimental performance investigation of a NePCM based photovoltaic thermal system: An energetic and exergetic approach , 2021, Renewable Energy.

[7]  Ajay K. Pandey,et al.  2-D Mxene flakes as potential replacement for both TCO and Pt layers for Dye-Sensitized Solar cell , 2021 .

[8]  K. Ismail,et al.  Effect of graphene nanoparticles on charging and discharging processes of latent thermal energy storage using horizontal cylinders , 2021 .

[9]  V. Tyagi,et al.  Synthesis and characterization of conducting Polyaniline@cobalt-Paraffin wax nanocomposite as nano-phase change material: Enhanced thermophysical properties , 2021, Renewable Energy.

[10]  Qiangwei Wang,et al.  Experimental Study of the Thermal Properties of a Homogeneous Dispersion System of a Paraffin-based Composite Phase Change Materials , 2021 .

[11]  H. Ali,et al.  Experimental case studies of the effect of Al2O3 and MWCNTs nanoparticles on heating and cooling of PCM , 2020 .

[12]  Lihui Liu,et al.  Enhanced thermal energy storage of a paraffin-based phase change material (PCM) using nano carbons , 2020 .

[13]  F. S. Javadi,et al.  Performance improvement of solar thermal systems integrated with phase change materials (PCM), a review , 2020, Solar Energy.

[14]  Liey-si Wong-Pinto,et al.  Progress on use of nanoparticles in salt hydrates as phase change materials , 2020 .

[15]  M. Ahmad,et al.  Super absorption of solar energy using a plasmonic nanoparticle based CdTe solar cell , 2019, RSC advances.

[16]  M. Hasanuzzaman,et al.  Global advancement of solar thermal energy technologies for industrial process heat and its future prospects: A review , 2019, Energy Conversion and Management.

[17]  A. Shahsavar,et al.  A novel comprehensive experimental study concerned synthesizes and prepare liquid paraffin-Fe3O4 mixture to develop models for both thermal conductivity & viscosity: A new approach of GMDH type of neural network , 2019, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer.

[18]  John Sherbondy.  Activated carbon , 2019, Carbon Materials.

[19]  I. Sârbu,et al.  A Comprehensive Review of Thermal Energy Storage , 2018 .

[20]  Wei Yang,et al.  Hybrid network structure of boron nitride and graphene oxide in shape-stabilized composite phase change materials with enhanced thermal conductivity and light-to-electric energy conversion capability , 2018 .

[21]  F. Perera.  Pollution from Fossil-Fuel Combustion is the Leading Environmental Threat to Global Pediatric Health and Equity: Solutions Exist , 2017, International journal of environmental research and public health.

[22]  N. Putra,et al.  Characterization of the thermal stability of RT 22 HC/graphene using a thermal cycle method based on thermoelectric methods , 2017 .

[23]  Pascal Henry Biwole,et al.  Cooling methodologies of photovoltaic module for enhancing electrical efficiency: A review , 2017 .

[24]  Fatima Zia,et al.  Alginate-Poly(Ethylene) Glycol and Poly(Ethylene) Oxide Blend Materials , 2017 .

[25]  Z. K. Genc,et al.  Preparation and investigations of thermal properties of copper oxide, aluminium oxide and graphite based on new organic phase change material for thermal energy storage , 2015, Bulletin of Materials Science.

[26]  H. Stoeckli.  Microporous carbons and their characterization: The present state of the art , 1990 .