Improvement of Phase Change Materials (PCM) Used for Solar Process Heat Applications

View/ Open
Issue date
2021Suggested citation
Prieto, Cristina;
López-Román, Antón;
Martínez, Noelia;
Morera Prat, Josep M.;
Cabeza, Luisa F.;
.
(2021)
.
Improvement of Phase Change Materials (PCM) Used for Solar Process Heat Applications.
Molecules, 2021, vol. 26, num. 5, p. 1260-1-1260-13.
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26051260.
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The high intermittency of solar energy is still a challenge yet to be overcome. The use of thermal storage has proven to be a good option, with phase change materials (PCM) as very promising candidates. Nevertheless, PCM compounds have typically poor thermal conductivity, reducing their attractiveness for commercial uses. This paper demonstrates the viability of increasing the PCM effective thermal conductivity to industrial required values (around 4 W/m·K) by using metal wool infiltrated into the resin under vacuum conditions. To achieve this result, the authors used an inert resin, decoupling the specific PCM material selection from the enhancement effect of the metal wools. To ensure proper behavior of the metal wool under standard industrial environments at a broad range of temperatures, a set of analyses were performed at high temperatures and an inert atmosphere, presenting a thorough analysis of the obtained results.
Is part of
Molecules, 2021, vol. 26, num. 5, p. 1260-1-1260-13European research projects
The following license files are associated with this item:
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as cc-by (c) Prieto, Cristina et al., 2021
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
New phase change material storage concept including metal wool as heat transfer enhancement method for solar heat use in industry
Prieto, Cristina; Rubio, Carlos; Cabeza, Luisa F. (Elsevier, 2021)Thermal energy storage is recognized as a key technology in the energy transition the world is facing today. But the main technical barrier this technology has to achieve wider deployment the low thermal conductivity of ... -
Experimental analysis of the effective thermal conductivity enhancement of PCM using finned tubes in high temperature bulk tanks
Gil, Antoni; Peiró Bell-lloch, Gerard; Oró Prim, Eduard; Cabeza, Luisa F. (Elsevier, 2018)Solar cooling is a promising solution to overcome the high energy demand of buildings. Nevertheless, the time dependent nature of the solar source leads to the need of storage systems in order to better match the energy ... -
Thermal energy storage (TES) with phase change materials (PCM) in solar power plants (CSP). Concept and plant performance
Prieto, Cristina; Cabeza, Luisa F. (Elsevier, 2019)Concentrated solar power (CSP) is today recognized as a unique renewable energy for electricity generation due to its capability to provide dispatchable electricity incorporating thermal energy storage (TES). Molten salts ...