Abstract

The low thermal conductivity of phase change material (PCM) leads to low heat storage/retrieval rates. The expanded graphite (EG) was used to enhance the thermal conductivity. EG/paraffin composite with the 7% mass fraction of EG was prepared as a good candidate for the latent thermal energy storage (LTES) system. A shell and tube LTES system built for room heating and hot water supply in a family was experimentally investigated. The paraffin and paraffin/EG composite were used as the heat storage material, respectively. The experimental results indicated: The utilization of EG/paraffin composite PCM greatly improved the heat storage/retrieval rates of the LTES system. The LTES system with paraffin/EG composite showed a 44% reduction in heat storage duration and a nearly 69% reduction in the retrieval duration, respectively, compared to those for the system using pure paraffin. The most outstanding advantage, for the LTES system filled with paraffin/EG composite, was that the outlet temperature of water can be maintained at a higher level for a longer term than that with paraffin. However, the LTES system filled with EG/paraffin composite did not show an obvious advantage in the step-by-step heat retrieval mode, compared with paraffin.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.