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Electro/photo to heat conversion system based on polyurethane embedded graphite foam

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  • Chen, Renjie
  • Yao, Ruimin
  • Xia, Wei
  • Zou, Ruqiang

Abstract

Organic phase change materials (PCMs) have exhibited many promising potentials for thermal energy conversion and storage, but they are still confronted with many technical bottlenecks for practical application, such as low conductivity, leakage during phase transition process, and lack of functionality. In this article, a highly-efficient electro/photo to heat conversion system of polyurethane@graphite foam (PU@GF) phase change composites was successfully fabricated through in situ polymerization of polyethylene glycol (PEG) in GF. The obtained PU presents solid–solid phase transition behavior that is different from the solid–liquid phase change of original PEG, which can prevent PU from leakage even if it was loaded in micrometer pores in the GF during application. On the other side, PU can improve the thermal stability and decrease the overcooling degree of the composites in effect. Excellent conductive network was provided by the GF, with which the light absorption and thermal conductivity of the composites were enhanced dramatically. Consequently, the solid–solid phase change composites can effectively store electricity or sunlight energy. The electro-heat storage efficiency of the composites can exceed 80% at 1.2 or 1.4V, meanwhile, the photo-heat storage efficiency can close to 67% under simulated solar illumination. This result presents the highest efficiency for electro-to-heat conversion by PCMs techniques driven by a quite low voltage up to now, and will give rise to a new expectation of functional PCM application for energy conversion and storage.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Renjie & Yao, Ruimin & Xia, Wei & Zou, Ruqiang, 2015. "Electro/photo to heat conversion system based on polyurethane embedded graphite foam," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 183-188.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:152:y:2015:i:c:p:183-188
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.01.022
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Zuo, Hongyang & Zhou, Yuan & Wu, Mingyang & Zeng, Kuo & Chang, Zheshao & Chen, Sheng & Lu, Wang & Flamant, Gilles, 2021. "Development and numerical investigation of parallel combined sensible-latent heat storage unit with intermittent flow for concentrated solar power plants," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 29-43.
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    7. Cheng, Gong & Wang, Zhangzhou & Wang, Xinzhi & He, Yurong, 2022. "All-climate thermal management structure for batteries based on expanded graphite/polymer composite phase change material with a high thermal and electrical conductivity," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    8. B. Kalidasan & A. K. Pandey & Saidur Rahman & Aman Yadav & M. Samykano & V. V. Tyagi, 2022. "Graphene–Silver Hybrid Nanoparticle based Organic Phase Change Materials for Enhanced Thermal Energy Storage," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-16, October.
    9. Zhang, P. & Xiao, X. & Ma, Z.W., 2016. "A review of the composite phase change materials: Fabrication, characterization, mathematical modeling and application to performance enhancement," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 472-510.
    10. Zhang, Xialan & Lin, Qilang & Luo, Huijun & Luo, Shiyuan, 2020. "Three-dimensional graphitic hierarchical porous carbon/stearic acid composite as shape-stabilized phase change material for thermal energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).

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