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Materials Today: Proceedings 5 (2018) 3411–3417 www.materialstoday.com/proceedings

ICMPC 2017

Study of Phase Change materials and its domestic application


Jatin Vadhera, Amandeep Sura, Gopal Nandan*, Gaurav Dwivedi
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida

Abstract

Phase change materials (PCMs) are utilized effectively for the purpose of storage of thermal energy. It provides certain
advantages such as isothermal storage process and high energy storage density. A large number of phase change materials in a
wide range of temperatures are being researched upon for making them useful and employable in latent heat storage systems for
different purposes. The desirable and undesirable qualities of different types of PCM have been included in the paper to give the
readers an insight into what qualities are required in a PCM to be useful for different practical applications. Various applications
of PCMs in solar air heater and water heater, solar greenhouse, solar cooker, trombe wall and wallboards are discussed and their
uses in refrigeration have also been reported in this paper.

© 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.


Selection and/or Peer-review under responsibility of 7th International Conference of Materials Processing and Characterization.

Keywords: Phase Change Material (PCM), Latent Heat Storage, PCM applications, PCM Refrigeration, Greenhouse, Thermal flow;
Temperature fluctuations

1.Introduction
The continuous rise of greenhouse gas emission, fuel prices and limited availability of fossil fuel are driving
potential to utilize various sources of renewable energy. Thermal energy storage (TES) is holding of thermal energy
temporarily in another medium to utilize later. Sensible heat storage and latent heat storage are the main types of
energy storage options. In sensible type of TES systems, temperature of storage medium changes to store energy,
which can be water, soil, rock, brine, etc. In, Latent TES systems, phase change occurs tostore energy; e.g. cold
storage water/ice and by melting paraffin waxes etc. Sensible storage units are generally larger than latent TES
units. More compact TES can be achieved based on storages that use chemical reactions [1].

* Corresponding author. Tel.: 9412955789; fax: 0120-2433234.


E-mail address:gopalnandan@gmail.com

2214-7853© 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.


Selection and/or Peer-review under responsibility of 7th International Conference of Materials Processing and Characterization.
3412 Gopal Nandan et al. / Materials Today: Proceedings 5 (2018) 3411–3417

Nomenclature

m Mass of substance
Csp Specific heat of solid substance at constant pressure
Clp Specific heat of liquid substance at constant pressure
Ti Initial temperature
Tf Final temperature
Δhm Latent heat of material
Q Energy stored

Three steps are involved in TES namely: charging, storing and discharging. Simultaneous occurrence of process
may occur in practical applications (for example charging and storing) and each step may occur more than once in
each storage cycle. Energy demands vary on daily, weekly and seasonal basis. TES systems that operate
synergistically are used to match demands and it deals with the storage of energy by heating, cooling, melting,
vaporizing or solidifying a material and when the process is reversed thermal energy is released and obtained. It is
an important innovation in systems including renewable energies and additionally other energy resources as it can
make their operation more effective, especially by crossing over the period between periods when energy is gathered
and periods when it is required. Thus, TES helps provide balance between the demand and supply of energy [2, 3].
The effectiveness of thermal energy equipment can be improved by TES systems and for facilitating large-scale fuel
commutating. The determination of a TES system for a specific application relies on upon numerous variables,
including storage duration, economics, supply and usage temperature prerequisites, storage capacity, and available
space and heat losses [3]. In this study focus is given to latent thermal energy systems. Phase change material
(PCM) is a type of latent heat storage material which absorb/release heat by undergoing an isothermal or near
isothermal phase transformation from liquid to gas or solid to liquid or vice versa. This change in state is called
phase, through which thermal energy transfer occurs. The solid liquid PCM’s perform more or less like conventional
storage materials, whose temperature changes with the absorption of heat. The main advantage is that rate of heat
absorb and release are nearly constant, unlike the sensible storage materials. The storage capacity of a latent heat
storage system with PCM as a medium is given by:
= [ ( − )+ ∆ℎ + − ]
Five to fourteen times more heat can be stored than sensible heat storage materials (like as water, rock etc) for same
volume such. These materials should exhibit certain desirable chemical, thermodynamic, physical and kinetic
properties to be employed as latent heat storage systems. The deciding factors for the selection of PCM’s are
availability and cost [4].

1.1 Physical Properties


At operating temperatures vapour pressure should be small and volume changes should be minimal to avoid problem
of containment. It should have high density to allow use of smaller sized storage containers. Heat storage setting is
greatly helped by phase stability during melting and freezing. Briefly, the desirable physical properties are
(i) Volume changes should be small
(ii) Small vapour pressure
(iii) Favourable phase equilibrium
(iv) High density
1.2 Chemical Properties
Non-flammability, non-explosiveness and non-toxicity should be the ideal properties. PCM’s should be such that
they do not suffer from deterioration by losing water of hydration, construction material incompatibility issues or
chemical decomposition. Briefly, the chemical properties are Non-flammable, Non-toxic, compatible with
construction materials and chemically stable for use in long term.
Gopal Nandan et al./ Materials Today: Proceedings 5 (2018) 3411–3417 3413

1.3 Thermal Properties


The materials should have high thermal conductivity which aids in the stored energy’s discharging/charging
characterises. The transition temperature of the PCM should match with heating and cooling temperature of
operation. The latent heat should be very high to create compact heat storage especially volumetrically. Briefly,
desirable thermal properties can be stated as:
(i) High thermal conductivity
(ii) Latent heat should be high
(iii) Phase transition temperature should be suitable
(iv) Heat transfer should be good

1.4 Kinetic Properties


Super cooling should present in a PCM in a narrow range for proper charging and discharging the heat. The
crystallization rate should also be sufficient for its employability in systems. Briefly, the desirable kinetic properties
can be stated as:
(i) Minimum or no super cooling
(ii) Crystallization rate should be sufficient

1.5 Economic Considerations


The ease of availability and abundance of PCM are also deciding factors in the selection process. Moreover, the
PCM’s should be cost effective. Briefly, the desirable economic conditions are:
(i) It should be very cheap,
(ii) Easily available and
(iii) It should be in abundance.

2. Classification of Phase Change Material


They are available in vast numbers for different temperature ranges. However, most of these materials do not fulfill
the selection criteria which are required for suitable storage medium. For improving the properties of PCM’s
available materials have to be used as all the desirable properties cannot be found in a single material, for example,
metallic fins greatly improve thermal conductivity. When comparing inorganic compounds (250-400 kg/dm3) with
organic phase change materials (128-200 kg/dm3) inorganic have double the latent heat storage capacity. Various
types of phase change materials have been discussed in the following section.

2.1 Organic Materials


Organic phase change materials have the property of self-nucleation which means they have the capability to
crystallize with no or very little super cooling and usually corrosive effects are very minimal. Their capabilities
include melting and freezing repeatedly without losing their latent heat of fusion and any phase segregation. They
are of two types:
(a) Paraffin and (b) Non-Paraffins
(a) Paraffins: It mainly contains of a mixture of CH3–(CH2)-CH3, which are straight chained n-alkanes. It is
available over wide temperature ranges. (CH3) – Chain crystallization gives large amount of latent heat energy,
which can be get increased as chain length gets increased [5]. Below 500oC paraffins are stable, chemically inert,
reliable, predictable and less corrosive. Their drawbacks include low thermal conductivity and moderate
flammability.
(b) Non-paraffin: Subgroups of fatty acids are known as Non paraffins. They should not be exposed to flames, high
temperatures, and oxidising agents as these materials are flammable. Thermal conductivity and flash points are low
whereas high heat of fusion, stability only at low temperatures, and variations in toxicity are some other
characteristics of non paraffins.
3414 Gopal Nandan et al. / Materials Today: Proceedings 5 (2018) 3411–3417

2.2 INORGANIC MATERIALS


As inorganic phase change materials do not supercool theirheat of fusion does not degrade with cycling. They are
categorised into:
(a) Salt hydrates and
(b) Metallics
(a) Salt hydrates: Salt hydrates are typical crystalline solids having general formula AB nH2O. These are attractive
phase change material because of some of their properties such as high thermal conductivity, low volume changes
associated with melting, and high latent heat density. Their major drawback is that super cooling because of their
poor nucleating properties is the main problem associated with salt hydrates.
(b) Metallics: They basically include low melting metals and metal eutectics. They have high heat of fusion density,
low specific heat of fusion, low vapour pressure, high thermal conductivity and lower specific heats. Because of
weight penalties, they are not preferred.

2.3 Eutectics
A mixture of components formed during crystallization is known as eutectic. Each of the components change phase
and finally make a minimum melting composition. Eutectic components do not separate due to freezing to an
intimate mixture of crystals and therefore the eutectic nearly without segregating always melts and freezes.

3. APPLICATIONS OF PCM
3.1 Solar Water Heater
The solar water heating systems are now widely used because of ease of manufacturing and low maintenance cost.
In water heater, PCM have been filled at base. In day time, water gets heated and ultimately heat is transferred to
PCM, which stores heat by melting. When the sun sets the hot water is replaced by cold water [6]. The cold water
gets energy from PCM by changes its phase to solid again. The system efficiency is low due to poor heat transfer
between them.

3.2 Solar Cookers


Solar cookers are widely used using solar energy. It is the most common use of solar energy. Limitations of this
cooker arise when solar energy is unavailable in night time. Utility of these cookers can be improved if there is a
method of storing energy. Solar cookers containing latent heat storage materials have been studied to cook food at
evening. It was a box type solarcooker in which PCM (Magnesium nitrate hexahydrate) was used by Domanski et al.
[7]. Commercial grade stearic acid was used beneath absorbtion plate by Buddhi and Sahoo [8] and acetamide was
used by Sharma et al. [9] to cook food late in evening. For cooking in the evening, phase change temperature of
PCM should be between 105 to 110oC in solar cooker.

3.3 SOLAR AIR HEATER


The efficiency of air-based solar heating systems containing PCM’s was studied to determine the effect on the
thermal performance of air-based solar heating systems as a function of latent heat [10]. No load conditions daytime
performance of air heater [11] was tested consisting variations of ambient temperature from 19oC to 41oC and daily
global irradiation is 4.9–19.9 MJ/m2. The heated air temperature was raised by 15K with 50% useful efficiency. The
use of it includes crops that do not require direct sunlight like medicinal plants Aromatic herbs, and other crops can
be subjected to solar cabinet dryer.
The performance of hybrid system based on shape-stabilized PCM (SSPCM) plates was tested. In Beijing,
a passive solar house, SSPCM plates were used as inner lining in the walls and ceiling. Extra heat energy is supplied
amid load hours at early morning as late night to maintain i0ndoor temperature more than 18oC. It improved the
indoor thermal comfort level and saved around 47% of normal and peak hour energy use [12]. In winter, it saved
12% of total energy. The electrical power loading for the power plants would be levelled and would give economic
advantages in those areas where electricity tariff is different in day and night time, the by use of hybrid heating
system.
Gopal Nandan et al./ Materials Today: Proceedings 5 (2018) 3411–3417 3415

3.4 SOLAR GREEN HOUSE


Greenhouse maintains the environmentwithin enclosure which is suitable for growth and cultivation of plants.In
green houses, PCM’s have also been used for drying and curing purposes. CaC12.6H2O in aerosol cans was
employed to investigate energy storage capabilities both outside and inside in a tedlarcoated fibreglass green-
house[13]. The quantity of PCMsfilled cans was different for outside and inside of the greenhouse. During daytime,
energy was stored in these cans in the green house and energy was released at night by reversing air flow.For the
assessment of greenhouse microclimate and thermal storage performances a quasi-eutectic mixture was used in 1990
by Boulard et al. [14]. The inside temperature of greenhouse remained about 10°C higher than outside temperature
during nights. Benli et al. [15] used CaCl2.6H2O, which has a melting temperature of 29°C. The storage
compartment was heated using solar air collectors. In the absence of sun, ambient air extracted heat from CM before
admitting to greenhouse. There is saving of about 18–23% of thermal energy requirements upto 4 hours with respect
to conventional heating arrangement. The temperature variation inside the greenhouse is minimised. A mathematical
model is developed for the greenhouse. To investigated inside greenhouse temperature variation. By the use of
PCMs temperature swing was reduced to 3–5°C during 24 hours[16].

3.5 BUILDINGS
Since 1980, for thermal storage PCMs have been considered in buildings. These materials have been implemented at
various places like in Trombe wall, shutters, wallboards, under floor, ceiling boards to use in cooling and heating
applications. In the literature, prototypes of PCM were developed and tested to improve the heat storage capacity.
During daytime heat energy is absorbed in phase change material impregnated in them and then slowly releases the
heat energy overnight [17]. By encapsulating PCMs in concrete, gypsum wallboard, ceiling and floor solar energy
can be stored and human comfort is improved by reducing internal temperature fluctuation and maintaining desired
temperature [18].

3.5.1 PCM Trombe wall

It has been proposed that PCMscan be used in partitions, vertical walls, floors, and ceilings for temperature
regulation. Masonry in a trombe wall is replaced by phase change materials. It is very convenient to use it in
building applications. Experiments were conducted to investigate the efficiency of PCMs used in a trombewall [19,
20]. Phase change units have low density compare to water and hence require less space as compare to water walls
for a specified amount of heat storage. In building applications salt hydrates, hydrocarbons are commonly used.
Overall conductivity was increased by adding metallic additives and thus made it more efficient.
Experiments were conducted using 8.1cm and 40cm wall using calcium chloride hexahydrate having a
melting point of 29oC. The thermal performance was better for 8.1cm wall comaprae to 40 cm thick masonry wall.
Chandra et al. used sodium sulphatedecahydrate (melting point 32oC) in trombe wall [21]. It was also observed that
smaller thickness walls were more thermally efficient storage in comparison to ordinary masonry wall.

3.5.2 PCM wallboards


It is easy to encapsulate PCM in wallboards, henceused in various applications being very cheap making. PCM have
been incorporated into plasterboard by various processes. It improves the thermal comfort in the building by having
building [22,23]. Various researchers have investigated over decades [24-28].
Most of these attempts presented several drawbacks consisting of applied macro-capsules or direct
immersion processes. Due to these problems, PCM products were not able to gain foothold in market. Many of these
problems were overcome by option to microencapsulate PCMs, may make PCM products accessible for the building
industry. Schossig et al. [29] described the work done at Fraunhofer ISE within German government-funded projects
over the last 5 years, extending from first measurements of full-size rooms equipped with PCM to building
simulations. The first products are now released in the market. Kuznik et al. [30] conducted full scale experimental
investigation using PCM in internal partition wall in light weight building. They found that fluctuation in ambient
air temperature in the room is reduced during overheating period. The PCM wallboards having 5mm thickness is
suitable for charging and discharging. For summer, winter and mid-season day, experiments were conducted using
3416 Gopal Nandan et al. / Materials Today: Proceedings 5 (2018) 3411–3417

PCM copolymer composite wallboard and concluded that ambient temperature was lowered up to 4.2°C. Natural
convection enhanced in the room. There is no thermal stratification in the room [31]. Overheating of lightweight
buildings in summer is faced due to small storage capacity. Incorporation of PCMs these buildings can improve the
thermal comfort. The dynamic simulations using Energy Plus software is presented at four different locations. The
simulation results may give correct choice to incorporation of PCM at various places in the building [32].

3.6 Refrigeration
A refrigerator is a household appliance that comprises a thermally insulated chamber, and a heat pump in
which heat is exchanged from within the compartment to its outer surroundings to maintain the objects placed in
chamber at lower temperature that the surroundings. Power requirement for domestic refrigerators are high because
of their constant operation [33].A change in design of refrigerator can reduce the power consumption and energy can
be saved. Usually, energy consumption of household refrigerator depends upon its compressor efficiency, ambient
temperature, thermal load, door openings, temperature in compartment, and refrigerant type. Researchers have
reported the use of PCMs at various locations in refrigeration systems. PCMs have been used in chilled food
cabinets [34], mobile transport [35], space cooling [36] and ice-cream warehouse [37].
In conventional system heat is usually released from evaporator to air but using a Phase Change Material
surrounding the evaporator coil work as a solid or liquid medium to release the heat. PCM is touched with the
evaporator coil and the refrigerant will extract the stored heat energy of PCM through conduction method when
compressor is in working mode. The conduction transfer is considerably faster than the natural convection heat
transfer. In the conventional re frigerator the cabinet heat is extracted by the refrigerant through natural convection.
So the heat transfer performance will be improved by PCM. A mathematical model of parallel plate’s field with a
phase change material that from the flow of warm moist air absorbs heat was developed and validated. So it will
decrease the per month energy consumption by a refrigerator [38].

4. CONCLUSION
This study is focused on the application of phase change materials with different thermal energy storage
arrangements. The heat storage applications are used in various parts like solar water-heating systems, solar air
heating systems, solar cooking, solar green house, space heating and cooling application for buildings and
refrigeration. From energy usage point of view, these technologies are very advantageous to human beings. The
present research and trends are being focused in this paper. This paper provides insight and future scope as to which
properties are desirable for PCMs to become viable source for application in various areas

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