Evaluation of thermal energy dynamics in a compacted high-conductivity phase-change material

Darkwa, Jo; Su, O.; Zhou, T.

Abstract

This study evaluates the concept of developing a nondeform phase-change energy storage material possessing higher thermal conductivity and energy storage density through a pressure compaction process. The theoretical and experimental investigations have shown that the technique is able to reduce porosity and increase conductivity and energy storage density of a composite material. Even though there was some measure of plastoelasticity due to decompression, the average porosity was reduced from 62 to 23.8% at a relatively low compaction pressure of 2.8 MPa without any structural damage to the tested sample. The mean energy storage density increased by 97%, and the effective thermal conductivity also increased by 25 times, despite a 10% reduction in its latent heat capacity. There is, however, the need for further development toward minimizing the effect of decompression and achieving stronger energy storage tablets at a relatively low compaction force.

Citation

Darkwa, J., Su, O., & Zhou, T. (2015). Evaluation of thermal energy dynamics in a compacted high-conductivity phase-change material. Journal of Thermophysics and Heat Transfer, 29(2), https://doi.org/10.2514/1.T3911

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 5, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Jan 28, 2015
• Publication Date: Apr 30, 2015
• Deposit Date: Oct 24, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 24, 2017
• Journal: Journal of Thermophysics and Heat Transfer
• Print ISSN: 0887-8722
• Electronic ISSN: 1533-6808
• Publisher: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 2
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.2514/1.T3911
• Keywords: Phase change material; Non-deformed; Tablet; Energy storage density
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/748782
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.2514/1.T3911
• Additional Information: Copyright © 2015 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
• Contract Date: Oct 24, 2017