Abstract
Phase change material (PCM)-based thermal energy storage (TES) systems are preferred due to high energy density; however, they possess an inherent problem of low dispatchability. This is due to the low thermal conductivity of the constituent PCMs. For ensuring high energy density and high rate of dispatchability of the TES systems, it is necessary to find methods to enhance the thermal conductivity of these PCMs. The present study chooses low-temperature melting PCM (n-nonadecane) which is suitable for thermal regulation of various devices, systems and buildings. For enhancement of PCM, TiO2 nanoparticles are prepared using continuous spray pyrolysis method and dispersed within the PCM matrix using advanced wet impregnation technique, to form nano-enhanced PCMs (NEPCMs). The thermal properties of these NEPCMs have been adjudged, in this study. The advanced wet impregnation technique ensures uniform mixing of nanoparticles, and no visual separation or settling issues are encountered up to 2% by weight concentration. An increase in thermal conductivity up to 37% is observed. It is also observed that beyond 2% concentration, partial settling of nanoparticles is observed over a 1-week duration.
Graphic abstract
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abhat A (1983) Low temperature latent heat thermal energy storage: heat storage. Sol Energy 10:313–332
Dwivedi C, Dutta V (2012) Size controlled synthesis and photocatalytic activity of anatase TiO2 hollow microspheres. Appl Surf Sci 258:9584–9588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2012.05.151
Pise AT, Waghmare AV, Talandage VG (2013) Heat transfer enhancement by using nanomaterial in phase change material for latent heat thermal energy. Asian J Eng Appl Technol 2:360–366
Saxena R, Biplab K, Rakshit D (2017) Quantitative assessment of phase change material utilization for building cooling load abatement in composite climatic condition. J Sol Energy Eng 140:011001. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4038047
Saxena R, Rakshit D, Kaushik SC (2018) Experimental assessment of characterised PCMs for thermal management of buildings in tropical composite climate. In: 4th world congress on mechanical, chemical, and material engineering (MCM’18)
Saxena R, Agarwal N, Rakshit D, Kaushik SC (2020a) Suitability assessment and experimental characterization of phase change materials for energy conservation in Indian buildings. J Sol Energy Eng. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4044568
Saxena R, Rakshit D, Kaushik SC (2020b) Review on PCM application for cooling load reduction in Indian buildings. In: Tyagi H, Chakraborty P, Powar S, Agarwal A (eds) Solar energy—system, challenges and opportunities. Springer, Singapore, pp 247–275. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-0675-8_13
Sharma RK, Ganesan P, Tyagi VV et al (2015) Developments in organic solid–liquid phase change materials and their applications in thermal energy storage. Energy Convers Manag 95:193–228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2015.01.084
Shi J-N, Ger M-D, Liu Y-M et al (2013) Improving the thermal conductivity and shape-stabilization of phase change materials using nanographite additives. Carbon 51:365–372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2012.08.068
Singh RP, Xu H, Kaushik SC et al (2019) Effective utilization of natural convection via novel fin design & influence of enhanced viscosity due to carbon nano-particles in a solar cooling thermal storage system. Sol Energy 183:105–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2019.03.005
Teng T-P, Yu C-C (2012) Characteristics of phase-change materials containing oxide nano-additives for thermal storage. Nanoscale Res Lett 7:611. https://doi.org/10.1186/1556-276X-7-611
Zalba B, Marı́n JM, Cabeza LF, Mehling H (2003) Review on thermal energy storage with phase change: materials, heat transfer analysis and applications. Appl Therm Eng 23:251–283. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1359-4311(02)00192-8
Funding
This study was supported by Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology (Grant No. TMD/CERI/BEE/2016/084(G)).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Saxena, R., Dwivedi, C., Dutta, V. et al. Nano-enhanced PCMs for low-temperature thermal energy storage systems and passive conditioning applications. Clean Techn Environ Policy 23, 1161–1168 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-020-01854-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-020-01854-7