Investigation into Compacted Composite Micro-encapsulated Phase Change Energy Storage Material

Abstract

This study evaluates the concept of developing a composite phase change energy storage material which possess higher thermal conductivity and energy storage density through pressure compaction process. The theoretical and experimental investigations have shown that the technique is able to reduce porosity and increase conductivity and energy storage density of a composite material. Even though there was some measure of plastoelasticity due to decompression, the average porosity was reduced from 62 % to 23.8 % at a relatively low compaction pressure of 2.8 MPa without any structural damage to the tested sample. The mean energy storage density increased by 97 % and the effective thermal conductivity also increased by twenty five times despite 10 % reduction in its latent heat capacity. The result demonstrates a unique method of enhancing the performance of phase change materials for application in buildings. There is however the need for further development towards minimising the effect of decompression.