Abstract
In recent years, the implementation of novel solutions aimed at improving thermal energy storage (TES) capability to both energy technologies and building-integrated systems has gained increasing attention. In particular, the application of phase change materials (PCM) is currently gathering worldwide acknowledgment. In this work, the potential of animal fat as a novel bio-based PCM having transition temperature around the ambient temperature is assessed by means of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and extensive temperature monitoring. Results from the TGA showed the differential degradation of the main components of the animal fat during the heating phase, where three different decomposition steps could be noticed. The thermal monitoring and the DSC analysis demonstrated the promising thermal performance of the material, which showed an interesting double transition range globally associated to a melting enthalpy of about 28.94 kJ·kg - 1 . The obtained results demonstrate the promising thermophysical properties of the animal fat blend, which can be considered as a low-cost, biocompatible PCM, particularly with potential application in passive building envelope applications for a wide range of temperature boundary conditions.
Highlights
In a modern, energy-conscious society, the reduction of buildings’ energy consumption and the improvement of indoor thermal comfort conditions can be considered as an urgent priority
This is a consequence of the unique chemical composition of the bio-based phase change materials (PCM), which blends in its matrix different kinds of fatty acids, and in particular saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids
By numerically integrating the obtained differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) profile, it is possible to calculate the latent heat capacities associated to the bio-based PCM double transition
Summary
Energy-conscious society, the reduction of buildings’ energy consumption and the improvement of indoor thermal comfort conditions can be considered as an urgent priority. The manufacturing of highly efficient passive techniques for increasing the thermal performance of a construction represents a thriving area for the building sector. Among these solutions, thermal insulation materials probably constitute the most widely employed and investigated application worldwide [1,2,3]. Because of its high energy density, latent thermal energy storage, above all in the form of phase change materials (PCMs), is nowadays considered as a very promising field in passive building applications
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