Metallic wool for enhanced thermal conductivity of phase change materials

Abstract

The heat transfer potential of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) is augmented by the insertion of a metallic wool with high thermal conductivity. Apparent thermal heat conductivity has been determined experimentally in the solid and in the liquid phase for different wool contents. Heat transfer is enhanced by the addition of wool in solid phase, but is mitigated in liquid phase by the restriction of natural convection. The difference in heat transfer efficiency in the liquid and solid phase induces an asymmetric behavior between the melting and solidification configurations. The behavior of metallic wool-PCM composites is very similar to metallic foam-PCM hybrids studied in literature. As shown on the basis of rational material selection, the addition of a metallic wool constitutes in the practice a cost and process effective way to control the heat transfer potential.