Performance analysis of nanoparticles-enhanced PCM: An experimental approach

Abstract

In this paper, an experimental analysis of organic PCM is conducted. It includes an experimental study of paraffin type organic phase change material while suggesting a way to improve the low thermal conductivity, a feature that is the main disadvantage of especially organic phase change materials. In particular, temperature profiles of PCM for different hot source temperatures are examined, while determining the heat stored in the material and the speed at which the melting front moves under the assumption of uniform movement of the melt interface and solid material. Subsequently, and in order to increase the conductivity of the PCM and thus the rate of evolution, copper and aluminum oxide nanoparticles powder are added and the hybrid PCM is compared in terms of temperature profiles and storage capacity with the pure PCM. The presence of 0.165% Cu nanoparticles reduces the thermal charge duration by 25.3% while the presence of Cu-Al2O3 hybrid nanoparticles at a concentration of 0.165% −0.816% reduces the duration by 10.8%.