IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v132y2014icp543-550.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Optimization of filler distribution for organic phase change material composites: Numerical investigation and entropy analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Zhu, Yejun
  • Huang, Baoling
  • Wu, Jingshen

Abstract

Organic phase change materials have been attracting great attentions for their promising potential in thermal energy storage applications. Due to their poor thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity, thermally conductive fillers are often added to form composites to enhance the thermal performance. To achieve the optimized performance without sacrificing the thermal capacity, a novel numerical methodology has been developed to model the thermal behavior of phase change material composites, which has been validated by the experimental results for pure n-octadecane and n-octadecane/expanded graphite composites. Effects of different filler concentration distributions have been analyzed and compared. It is found that the phase change time is significantly affected by the filler distribution. An optimal polynomial filler distribution can reduce the phase change time by more than 50% with the same filling content, compared with the uniform distribution. Entropy analysis indicates that a shorter phase change time is correlated with a lower entropy generation rate.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhu, Yejun & Huang, Baoling & Wu, Jingshen, 2014. "Optimization of filler distribution for organic phase change material composites: Numerical investigation and entropy analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 543-550.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:132:y:2014:i:c:p:543-550
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.06.058
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261914006400
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.06.058?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Waqas, Adeel & Ud Din, Zia, 2013. "Phase change material (PCM) storage for free cooling of buildings—A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 18(C), pages 607-625.
    2. Xu, Biwan & Li, Zongjin, 2013. "Paraffin/diatomite composite phase change material incorporated cement-based composite for thermal energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 229-237.
    3. Li, Min, 2013. "A nano-graphite/paraffin phase change material with high thermal conductivity," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 25-30.
    4. Zhang, Zhengguo & Zhang, Ni & Peng, Jing & Fang, Xiaoming & Gao, Xuenong & Fang, Yutang, 2012. "Preparation and thermal energy storage properties of paraffin/expanded graphite composite phase change material," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 91(1), pages 426-431.
    5. Xu, Biwan & Li, Zongjin, 2014. "Performance of novel thermal energy storage engineered cementitious composites incorporating a paraffin/diatomite composite phase change material," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 114-122.
    6. Guelpa, Elisa & Sciacovelli, Adriano & Verda, Vittorio, 2013. "Entropy generation analysis for the design improvement of a latent heat storage system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 128-138.
    7. Verma, Prashant & Varun & Singal, S.K., 2008. "Review of mathematical modeling on latent heat thermal energy storage systems using phase-change material," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 12(4), pages 999-1031, May.
    8. AL-Saadi, Saleh Nasser & Zhai, Zhiqiang (John), 2013. "Modeling phase change materials embedded in building enclosure: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 21(C), pages 659-673.
    9. Joulin, Annabelle & Younsi, Zohir & Zalewski, Laurent & Lassue, Stéphane & Rousse, Daniel R. & Cavrot, Jean-Paul, 2011. "Experimental and numerical investigation of a phase change material: Thermal-energy storage and release," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(7), pages 2454-2462, July.
    10. Agyenim, Francis & Hewitt, Neil & Eames, Philip & Smyth, Mervyn, 2010. "A review of materials, heat transfer and phase change problem formulation for latent heat thermal energy storage systems (LHTESS)," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(2), pages 615-628, February.
    11. Sharma, Atul & Tyagi, V.V. & Chen, C.R. & Buddhi, D., 2009. "Review on thermal energy storage with phase change materials and applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(2), pages 318-345, February.
    12. Fan, Li-Wu & Fang, Xin & Wang, Xiao & Zeng, Yi & Xiao, Yu-Qi & Yu, Zi-Tao & Xu, Xu & Hu, Ya-Cai & Cen, Ke-Fa, 2013. "Effects of various carbon nanofillers on the thermal conductivity and energy storage properties of paraffin-based nanocomposite phase change materials," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 163-172.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Nomura, Takahiro & Tabuchi, Kazuki & Zhu, Chunyu & Sheng, Nan & Wang, Shuangfeng & Akiyama, Tomohiro, 2015. "High thermal conductivity phase change composite with percolating carbon fiber network," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 678-685.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. 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.
    2. Alizadeh, M. & Sadrameli, S.M., 2016. "Development of free cooling based ventilation technology for buildings: Thermal energy storage (TES) unit, performance enhancement techniques and design considerations – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 619-645.
    3. Mandal, Swaroop Kumar & Kumar, Samarjeet & Singh, Purushottam Kumar & Mishra, Santosh Kumar & Singh, D.K., 2020. "Performance investigation of nanocomposite based solar water heater," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    4. Soares, N. & Gaspar, A.R. & Santos, P. & Costa, J.J., 2015. "Experimental study of the heat transfer through a vertical stack of rectangular cavities filled with phase change materials," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 192-205.
    5. Zeinelabdein, Rami & Omer, Siddig & Gan, Guohui, 2018. "Critical review of latent heat storage systems for free cooling in buildings," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 2843-2868.
    6. Kenisarin, Murat & Mahkamov, Khamid, 2016. "Passive thermal control in residential buildings using phase change materials," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 371-398.
    7. Ye, Hong & Long, Linshuang & Zhang, Haitao & Zou, Ruqiang, 2014. "The performance evaluation of shape-stabilized phase change materials in building applications using energy saving index," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1118-1126.
    8. Ibrahim, Nasiru I. & Al-Sulaiman, Fahad A. & Rahman, Saidur & Yilbas, Bekir S. & Sahin, Ahmet Z., 2017. "Heat transfer enhancement of phase change materials for thermal energy storage applications: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 26-50.
    9. AL-Saadi, Saleh Nasser & Zhai, Zhiqiang (John), 2013. "Modeling phase change materials embedded in building enclosure: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 21(C), pages 659-673.
    10. Nourani, Moloud & Hamdami, Nasser & Keramat, Javad & Moheb, Ahmad & Shahedi, Mohammad, 2016. "Thermal behavior of paraffin-nano-Al2O3 stabilized by sodium stearoyl lactylate as a stable phase change material with high thermal conductivity," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 474-482.
    11. Mohamed, Shamseldin A. & Al-Sulaiman, Fahad A. & Ibrahim, Nasiru I. & Zahir, Md. Hasan & Al-Ahmed, Amir & Saidur, R. & Yılbaş, B.S. & Sahin, A.Z., 2017. "A review on current status and challenges of inorganic phase change materials for thermal energy storage systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 1072-1089.
    12. Soares, N. & Bastos, J. & Pereira, L. Dias & Soares, A. & Amaral, A.R. & Asadi, E. & Rodrigues, E. & Lamas, F.B. & Monteiro, H. & Lopes, M.A.R. & Gaspar, A.R., 2017. "A review on current advances in the energy and environmental performance of buildings towards a more sustainable built environment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 845-860.
    13. Liu, Yang & Zheng, Ruowei & Li, Ji, 2022. "High latent heat phase change materials (PCMs) with low melting temperature for thermal management and storage of electronic devices and power batteries: Critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    14. Cao, Lei & Su, Di & Tang, Yaojie & Fang, Guiyin & Tang, Fang, 2015. "Properties evaluation and applications of thermal energystorage materials in buildings," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 500-522.
    15. 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.
    16. Memon, Shazim Ali, 2014. "Phase change materials integrated in building walls: A state of the art review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 870-906.
    17. Ma, Zhenjun & Lin, Wenye & Sohel, M. Imroz, 2016. "Nano-enhanced phase change materials for improved building performance," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 1256-1268.
    18. Li, Liping & Wang, Gang & Guo, Chuigen, 2016. "Influence of intumescent flame retardant on thermal and flame retardancy of eutectic mixed paraffin/polypropylene form-stable phase change materials," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 428-434.
    19. Bose, Prabhu & Amirtham, Valan Arasu, 2016. "A review on thermal conductivity enhancement of paraffinwax as latent heat energy storage material," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 81-100.
    20. Aadmi, Moussa & Karkri, Mustapha & El Hammouti, Mimoun, 2014. "Heat transfer characteristics of thermal energy storage of a composite phase change materials: Numerical and experimental investigations," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 381-392.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:132:y:2014:i:c:p:543-550. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.