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Thermodynamic and thermal energy storage properties of a new medium-temperature phase change material

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Abstract

Phase change materials (PCMs) that can store the heat energy obtained from intermittent solar irradiation are very important for solar energy absorption cooling system. In this work, an organic compound that melts at the temperature of 368.2 ± 0.5 K was applied as PCM. The specific heat capacities of the PCM were measured by temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry from 198.15 to 431.15 K. The thermodynamic functions of [HTH298.15] and [STS298.15] were then calculated based on the measured heat capacities data. Afterward, the long-term cyclic thermal energy storage stability and thermal stability of the PCM were investigated. The results show that the PCM melted and crystallized at about 368 and 364 K, respectively, with a phase change enthalpy (ΔtransH) of 21 kJ mol−1 (130 J g−1). Additionally, it exhibited good long-term cyclic thermal energy storage stability and thermal stability. Hence, the PCM could be applied as good PCM for solar energy absorption cooling.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province, China (2017JJ1026, 13JJ3068), the Scientific Research Fund of Hunan Provincial Education Department (15B0002) and the Guangxi Key Laboratory of Information Materials (Guilin University of Electronic Technology), P.R. China (171001-K).

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Correspondence to Ju-Lan Zeng.

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Zeng, JL., Shu, L., Jiang, LM. et al. Thermodynamic and thermal energy storage properties of a new medium-temperature phase change material. J Therm Anal Calorim 135, 3171–3179 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-018-7530-2

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