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Effect of different additives on freezing characteristics and stability of GnP-aqueous-based PCM for cold thermal storage

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Abstract

The aim of the research work reports the thermal performance of graphene-water-based nanofluid phase change material (NFPCM) with different types of surfactants for a cold thermal storage (CTS) system. The graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) are dispersed in DI water with the addition of commonly used surfactants, such as cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS), sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), polysorbate (Tween80), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and gum arabic (GA). The effect on the stability of different surfactants on the colloidal solution of GnP nanofluids is analyzed by zeta potential and particle size distribution. The average zeta potential values indicate that the SDBS-GnP, SDS-GnP, and GA-GnP combinations have good stability after 72 h. The freezing experiment is performed at − 7 °C cooling bath temperature in a spherical container and reveals that the surfactants have a significant influence on the supercooling rate and freezing time. The maximum reduction of 92.16% and 84.20% is observed for GA-GnP and SDBS-GnP in the supercooling rate, respectively. The prepared NFPCM can be incorporated in the CTS system owing to its enhanced thermal transport properties to increase the energy-saving potential. Also, the reduction of supercooling facilitates the chiller to operate at higher temperatures.

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Data availability

The authors declare that all the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.

Abbreviations

T :

Temperature/°C

t :

Time/s

f :

Freezing

n :

Supercooling

\(\dot{\mathrm{q }}\) :

Average surface heat flux/W m−2

m :

Mass of PCM/kg

λ :

Latent heat/KJ kg−1

S :

Uncertainty

logg:

Data logger

ini:

Initial

fin:

Final

DI :

Deionized

BF:

Base fluid

GA:

Gum arabic

PCM :

Phase change material

DSC :

Differential scanning calorimetry

RTD :

Resistance temperature detector

PUF:

Polyurethane foam

TEM :

Transmission electron microscope

HTF :

Heat transfer fluid

GnP :

Graphene nanoplatelet

SDS:

Sodium dodecyl sulfate

NPE:

Nonylphenolethoxylate

PVP:

Polyvinylpyrrolidone

HRSEM:

High-resolution scanning electron microscopy

MWCNT:

Multi-wall carbon nanotubes

CTES :

Cool thermal energy storage

LTES:

Latent heat thermal energy storage

LDPE :

Low-density polyethylene

PTDC :

Proportionate temperature differential controller

NFPCM :

Nanofluid phase change material

SDBS:

Sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate

CTAB:

Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pondicherry Engineering College, Puducherry for the support and encouragement for carrying out this research work. The authors also like to thank the Department of Mechanical Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai for their motivation and support.

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The authors state that they did not receive any specific grant from the funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pondicherry Engineering College, Puducherry, 605014, India

    P. Sundaram & A. Kalaisselvane

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India

    P. Sundaram

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Contributions

PS conducted the experiments in various surrounding conditions and consolidate the results. AK and PS interrupt the physical scenario behind the improvement of the thermophysical properties of the Phase Change Materials (PCM).

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Correspondence to P. Sundaram.

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Sundaram, P., Kalaisselvane, A. Effect of different additives on freezing characteristics and stability of GnP-aqueous-based PCM for cold thermal storage. J Therm Anal Calorim 147, 8033–8045 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-021-11056-y

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