Photothermal and thermoelectric performance of PCMs doped with nanoparticles and metal foam

Abstract

Combination of solar thermal power generation and Phase Change Materials (PCMs) helps solve the disadvantages of solar instability. In order to improve the photothermal performance of PCMs, PCMs doped with high thermal conductivity metal foam and nanoparticles were applied. The influence of nanoparticle mass fractions (ω = 0%, 0.5%, 0.8%, 1.0%), pore densities of metal foam (PPI = 5, 10, 15), light intensities (I = 600–1000 mw/cm2) was discussed. Results showed that an increase in pore densities of metal foam is beneficial to improving the thermal conductivity and increasing the temperature difference, the metal foam PPI = 15 can bring a maximum temperature rise of 7.9%, and can increase the temperature difference growth rate by 24.82%. The addition of nanoparticles increases the maximum voltage and power by up to 8.53% and 8.0%, respectively. This research has certain reference and guiding value for the application of thermoelectric power generation.