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Influence of thermal transport properties of NEPCM for cool thermal energy storage system

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Abstract

The present work deals with thermal energy storage behavior of the nano-enhanced phase change materials (NEPCMs) for building space cooling application. The NEPCMs have been prepared using Deionized (DI) water as the base phase change material (PCM) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as nanomaterial with mass concentration of 0.25%, 0.5%, and 0.75%. For better stability of additive materials in the base PCM, sodium dodecyl-benzene sulfonate (SDBS) has been chosen as an additive element. The sub-cooling of the DI water has been completely eliminated for a mass concentration of 0.75% of MWCNT. The differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) analysis has been conducted to measure the phase transition properties of NEPCMs. The enhancements of 12.8% and 14.13% in latent heat values for charging and discharging processes, respectively, were observed for maximum mass concentration. It has also been observed that the onset temperature for charging is reduced from − 12.8 to − 9.7 °C for NEPCM with maximum concentration. The maximum thermal conductivity (k) augmentation of 23% (solid phase) and 11.2% (liquid phase) has been achieved by the NEPCM having a mass concentration of 0.75% MWCNT at − 10 °C and 15 °C, respectively. According to the study results the reductions in total charging times are 28% and 19% with the NEPCM holding a mass concentration of 0.75% MWCNT for − 8 °C and − 6 °C heat transfer fluid (HTF) temperatures, respectively. The environmental pollution remediation can be achieved by the reduction in energy input to the chiller by minimizing the total time taken for the charging the PCM.

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Availability of data and materials

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)

k :

Thermal conductivity (W m−1 K−1)

σ:

Uncertainity

bf:

Base fluid

nf:

Nano fluid

logg:

Data logger

inst:

Instrument

DI:

Deionized

PCM:

Phase change material

DSC:

Differential scanning calorimetry

RTD:

Resistance temperature detector

SEC:

Specific energy consumption

SEM:

Scanning electron microscope

TEM:

Transmission electron microscope

HTF:

Heat transfer fluid

GNP:

Graphenennanoplatelets

CTS:

Cool thermal storage

LDPE:

Low density polyethylene

PTDC:

Proportionate temperature differential controller

MWCNT:

Multi wall carbon nanotubes

NEPCM:

Nano-enhanced phase change material

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Department of Mechanical Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur for the support and encouragement for carrying out this research work. The authors also like to thank the organizing committee of ICAME 2020 for the 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, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India

    A. Sathishkumar & M. Cheralathan

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  1. A. Sathishkumar
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  2. M. Cheralathan
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Contributions

AS conducted the experiments in various surrounding conditions and consolidate the results. MC and AS interrupt the physical scenario behind the improvement of the thermo physical properties of the Phase Chance Materials (PCM)

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Correspondence to M. Cheralathan.

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Sathishkumar, A., Cheralathan, M. Influence of thermal transport properties of NEPCM for cool thermal energy storage system. J Therm Anal Calorim 147, 367–378 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-020-10339-0

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