Thermal Storage Capacity Research Articles

Advancing thermal control in buildings with innovative cementitious mortar and recycled expanded glass/n-octadecane phase change material composites

This study delves into the role of phase change materials (PCMs) in bolstering energy efficiency, particularly in response to escalating global energy consumption in construction. The research focuses on integrating recycled expanded glass (REG) as a support material for shape-stabilized PCMs, specifically emphasizing n-octadecane (nOD) in cement mortars. With nOD exhibiting a melting point around 27 °C and a high latent heat thermal energy storage (TES) capacity of 241 J/g, various analyses, including DSC, FT-IR, SEM, TGA, and thermoregulation tests, assess the impact of different nOD/REG concentrations on TES properties. Alterations in physico-mechanical properties of mortar mixtures are noted with increasing REG/nOD content, impacting porosity and water absorption. The incorporation of REG/nOD PCMs decreases thermal conductivity, from 0.3620 W/mK (no PCM) to 0.1494 W/mK (full replacement). Thermo-regulation tests highlight PCM’s ability to counteract temperature fluctuations, surpassing results from other studies. Temperature difference outcomes (−10.60 °C daytime cooling, 4.00 °C nighttime heating) establish REG/nOD as promising for sustainable construction. The research evaluates PCM-infused concrete’s impact on building energy efficiency, noting significant heat demand reductions across climates and wall thicknesses. Carbon emissions decrease notably, especially with coal as the fuel source. Customized material thickness in PCM-integrated walls shows potential for substantial energy savings. These findings contribute valuable insights to the viability of REG/nOD composites in mitigating heating and cooling loads, advancing sustainable building solutions.

Design and modelling of mobile thermal energy storage (M−TES) using structured composite phase change material modules

This study concerns with a modelling led-design of a novel mobile thermal energy storage (M−TES) device aimed to address off-site industrial waste heat recovery and reuse in the UK. For the first time, salt-based composite phase change material (CPCM) modules were employed as the M−TES medium, utilizing air for charging and discharging. Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models were initially developed and validated against experimental data. The 2D model was used for parametric study to determine critical M−TES dimensions, followed by the 3D model for a comprehensive evaluation of thermal performance of the M−TES device. Key parameters examined included temperature uniformity within CPCM modules, evolution of air temperatures at the inlet and outlet, thermal storage capacities, charging/discharging rates, and specific efficiencies defined as heat transfer efficiencies and charging/discharging efficiencies throughout a complete cycle. The results under baseline conditions demonstrated that the M−TES device stored nearly 400 MJ of heat with a TES density of 560 kJ/kg after 10 h of charging, achieving an average CPCM temperature of 662 K. Approximately 97 % of the stored heat was released with the average outlet air temperature exceeding 468 K during the subsequent 10-hour discharging period. This work preliminarily verified the feasibility of the novel M−TES concept for integrating industrial thermal processing decarbonization with domestic heat supply.

Preparation and thermal properties of latent functional thermal fluid based on size-controllable phase change nanocapsules

Size-controllable 1-octadecanol@polystyrene phase change nanocapsules (NEPCMs) were prepared using the miniemulsion polymerization and dispersed in deionized water containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes to prepare a latent functional thermal fluid (LFTF). The results demonstrate that the NEPCMs exhibit a typical core-shell structure. The average particle size (55.28–143.8 nm) of the NEPCMs can be regulated by controlling the content of compound emulsifiers. The optimal phase change enthalpy has an excellent heat storage capacity of about 222.7 J/g, the encapsulation efficiency is up to 80.63 %, and the average particle size is about 88.3 nm. The heating/cooling cycles results show that NEPCMs have excellent cycle stability. LFTF containing 10 wt% NEPCMs was considered the optimal choice for its excellent photothermal conversion efficiency (up to 64.91 %), excellent dispersion stability (zeta potential 39.17 mV) and thermal storage capacity (peak specific heat capacity 5.72 J g−1 K−1). Under the influence of solar radiation, the temperature rise curve of LFTF exhibited a rapid initial warming rate followed by a plateau period of approximately 76 min upon reaching the melting point of the NEPCMs, whose photothermal conversion efficiency is roughly 2.18 times that of water. The experimental findings demonstrate the potential application of LFTF based on NEPCMs in the solar thermal industry.

Viability of hybrid and alkali-activated slag materials for thermal energy storage: Analysis of the evolution of mechanical and thermal properties

Technological progress is needed to develop renewable energies. Improvements should be especially focused on the energy storage element to help correct the mismatch between energy supply and demand. In concentrated solar power (CSP) plants, ordinary concrete made of Portland cement (PC) has been proven to be a good thermal energy storage (TES) medium. However, the substantial environmental impact of PC manufacturing makes it necessary to develop new materials. Thus, in this work, alternative alkali-activated mortars (AAM) and hybrid materials (HM) have been developed using blast furnace slag to replace PC. This has been done in order to study their stability at high temperature (up to 500 °C) and their viability to operate as TES, undergoing thermal cycles between 200 °C and 400 °C, as they would in CSP technologies. Studying the mechanical and thermal properties after the thermal treatments has revealed that the alternative materials offer improved mechanical properties as well as very good thermal conductivity and storage capacity values. In particular, the best results in terms of mechanical properties were achieved by the AAM system, where the compressive strength value is increased with respect to the reference PC sample by 195% after exposure to 500 °C and by almost 97% after 20 thermal cycles between 200 °C and 400 °C. Furthermore, in terms of thermal properties, the AAM system showed a 31% increase in thermal conductivity after thermal exposure compared to PC. In addition, both AAM and HM systems demonstrated substantial improvements in specific heat and thermal storage capacity, outperforming PC by up to 46% during CSP-like thermal cycles. These promising results open new doors to the study of these alternative materials, such as TES, as they are more suitable than PC from an operational point of view.

Developments and thermal properties of thermochromic microcapsule and thermochromic asphalt-based composite coatings

The black appearance of asphalt pavement easily absorbs a large amount of solar radiation in hot summer to lower its anti-deformation ability, and asphalt pavement cools down quickly in cold winter to cause cracks. To solve these problems, thermochromic core material (TCM) was encapsulated by the shell material of urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin to prepare thermochromic microcapsule (TM) using situ-polymerization. Then the surface morphology, particle size distribution, chemical composition, phase change property and thermal stability of TM were characterized. After that, emulsified asphalt and acrylic emulsion were selected as film-forming substances to prepare thermochromic asphalt-based composite coating (TACC) after adding different dosages of TM. The surface morphology, chemical composition, thermal storage capacity, phase change property and spectral reflectance of TACC were studied. The results show that TCM is successfully encapsulated by shell material which restricts the thermal conductivity of TCM, making heat transfer process of TM become gentler. Also, the phase change property of TM is still better due to excellent phase change property of TCM. Further, TM particles with the size range of 3.2–4.8 μm are uniformly distributed on TACC surface and show better dispersion in emulsified asphalt. Additionally, TM enhances the thermal storage capacity and thermal stability of TACC. The heat exchange efficiency between asphalt pavement and surrounding environments is increased by added TM particles, improving the thermal stability of TACC. Finally, the increased spectral reflectance in the near-infrared region reflects more solar radiation in hot season because of high reflectivity of TACC on asphalt pavement, which lowers asphalt pavement temperature to improve its anti-deformation ability.

Computational and experimental analysis of PCM-infused brick for sustainable heat regulation

Examining the thermodynamics of phase change materials (PCMs) when merged into construction materials is a significant subject within the realm of building science and environmental responsibility. When infused to construction materials like bricks, PCMs have the capacity to elevate a building’s temperature regulation by minimizing the energy required for thermal contentment. This research is dedicated to learn about the thermal conduct and the consequences of the fusion of calcium chloride hexahydrate mineral (CCHPCM) within the pores of a masonry unit. To achieve this, we implemented a practical testing specifically designed to scrutinize how CCHPCMs alter the thermal performance of studied compounds. Multiple configurations were designed by adjusting the arrangement of CCHPCM within the bricks, resulting in three distinct setups. The first set involved filling one row of the bricks, the second set entailed filling two rows, and the final configuration entailed filling all the pores with PCM. Additionally, a computational modeling was executed to survey the thermic behavior of bricks infused with CCHPCM, operating with COMSOL Multiphysics application program. The elaborated work concluded to having an enhancement of the brick’s thermal storage capacity, for Set-3, in which all rows of bricks are filled with PCM, a delay of 2 h is observed compared to Set-0 the brick without CCHPCM. This simulation also encompassed comparative findings regarding the thermal performance of CCHPCM when incorporated into the masonry unit. Overall, this study supplied the valorization of CCHPCMs infused in masonry units and their usage in distinct layouts on upgrading its candidature to achieving environmental responsibility.

Configuration method for medium-deep ground source heat pump system considering renewable energy consumption and smart grid interaction

Medium-deep ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems have the advantages of low carbon, high heat exchange intensity, good thermal storage capacity, and intermittent operation characteristics, which are conducive to renewable energy consumption and grid demand response. The source-side parameters affect the configuration of underground borehole engineering, heat pump units, and other equipment. However, current research mainly focuses on the underground heat exchanger modeling, underground heat exchange, and system operation control, while there are few studies on multi-factor ground source-side parameter design and optimal configuration. In this study, the indicator analyzing the unsteady features and thermal balance state of medium-deep geothermal resources was introduced, and the source-side water temperatures were optimized based on the dynamic characteristics of the geothermal and building sides. A simulation configuration methodology for the source-side flow rate and storage capacity was developed considering the electricity prices, life-cycle cost (LCC), and grid interaction. The optimization of the ground source-side design temperature, flow rate, and capacity parameters of residential and office building heating scenarios were analyzed in northern China, respectively. The results showed that the borehole inlet and outlet temperature can be designed to 5.5 °C/17.5 °C under the annual sustainable state, and the optimal flowrate can be set to 65.77 m3/h, to achieve the lowest cost and highest heating season guarantee rate for the residential scenario. For the office building with optimal system and storage capacity, the average annual LCC is 192,000 yuan/year, with the cumulative peak shaving of 55.8 %, and an increase of 103.3MWh renewable electricity consumption.

Magnetically assembled flexible phase change composites with vertically aligned structures for thermal management and electromagnetic interference shielding

Phase change material (PCM) is promising in achieving zero-energy thermal management because of its prominent thermal storage capacity and steady phase-change temperature. However, low intrinsic thermal conductivity (TC), liquid leak, and solid rigidity are long-standing bottlenecks for heat-related applications. Here, we report an innovative dual-encapsulation strategy to develop multifunctional phase change composite (FMP) with vertically aligned NdFeB@Ag arrays and styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene (SEPS) crosslinked network in paraffin (PA). The NdFeB@Ag arrays induced by magnetic-field driven procedure can offer the consecutive/oriented highways for efficient heat-transfer, and an electric/magnetic heterostructure for electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency (EMI SE). The flexible SEPS block copolymer not only ensures the high flexibility of PCM, but also combines with oriented NdFeB@Ag arrays for dual encapsulating PA. This multifunctional FMP can achieve high TC of 2.59 W m−1 K−1, attractive EMI SE of 35.42 dB, prominent enthalpy density of 120 J g−1, and impressive Joule heating performance, together with leakage-proof, dynamic assembly, and salient charging/discharging durability. Furthermore, the FMP-supported device is demonstrated for thermal energy harvesting and utilization. This dual-encapsulation design opens a new avenue for exploiting multifunctional PCMs for thermal management, anti-EM radiation, and low-grade exhaust heat utilization.

Mechanically strong, healable, and recyclable supramolecular solid–solid phase change materials with high thermal conductivity for thermal energy storage

Conventional polymeric solid–solid phase change materials (SSPCMs) have garnered significant attention in the development of state-of-the-art latent heat storage (LHS) systems. However, the industrial application of polymeric SSPCMs is compromised by inferior mechanical properties and intrinsic low thermal conductivity. In addition, they are unable to be recycled and self-healed due to permanently cross-linked structures. In this study, a series of healable and recyclable supramolecular SSPCMs (PEG4K-Bx-PEG6K), possessing robust tensile strength (∼22.90 MPa), excellent strain-at-break (∼733.62 %), and high toughness (∼120.05 MJ/m3), are designed and developed by incorporating dynamic boroxines and hydrogen bonds. Because of the reversibility of dynamic boroxines and hydrogen bonds, the PEG4K-Bx-PEG6K was able to be healable and conveniently processed into packaging bag. More importantly, the PEG4K-Bx-PEG6K also possessed high thermal storage capacity (98.03 J/g), and excellent thermal shape memory capability. To achieve efficient heat transfer, an orientated solar thermal composite with high thermal conductivity was fabricated by compression-induced repetitive stacking of oriented graphene nanosheets (GNs) layers in PEG4K-Bx-PEG6K. Thanks to the efficient heat conduction of oriented GNs layers in the composite, the directional thermal conductivity of composite was up to 3.639 W/mK at 5 wt% loading of GNs. Combining the above excellent heat conduction, the solar thermal composite developed in this work offered efficient solar thermal conversion, fast transportation and storage of the harvested thermal energy.

Thermal-Responsive Smart Windows with Passive Dimming and Thermal Energy Storage.

Chromogenic smart windows are one of the key components in improving the building energy efficiency. By simulation of the three-dimensional network of polymer hydrogels, thermal-responsive phase change materials (TRPCMs) are manufactured for energy-saving windows. For simulated polymer hydrogels, tetradecanol (TD) and a color changing dye (CCD) are filled in situ in poly(n-butyl isobutyrate) (PBB) networks. TRPCMs convert solar energy into thermal energy through a dark blue CCD. The TD phase change material (PCM) absorbs heat energy to become a transparent liquid. Simultaneously, the CCD changes from blue to colorless and transparent at around 45 °C. As a result, as-prepared TRPCMs transform from an opaque state at room temperature to a high-transparency state after melting (74.5%). TRPCMs also show a good thermal storage capacity, with a phase transition enthalpy exceeding 161.9 J g-1. As-prepared smart materials can simultaneously achieve photothermal conversion, thermal energy diffusion, latent heat storage, and resistance to liquid leakage at the phase interface between opaque and transparent states, providing more options for the design of energy-saving buildings.

Thermal storage cementitious materials containing SiO2-coated cenosphere@bio-based PCMs: Microstructural, mechanical, and thermal properties

Integration of phase change materials (PCMs) into buildings contributes to mitigating indoor temperature fluctuations, offering opportunities for alleviating energy crisis. However, prevalent PCM integration methods commonly suffer from shortcomings in mechanical properties, compatibility, and environmental sustainability, restricting their applications. This study developed a novel shape-stabilized PCM (SSPCM) using cenospheres from coal-fired power waste and bio-based PCMs from vegetable oil by-products, subsequently sealed with silica coatings to inhibit PCM leakage and improve thermal stability, termed as SCS@PCM, exhibiting melting enthalpy up to 103.9 J/g. SCS@PCM was then integrated into cement mortars by replacing fine sand to fabricate thermal storage cement-based materials (TSCM), followed by assessments of their microstructural, mechanical, and thermal properties. The results showed that the silica coating helps to lowrer adverse impact of SCS@PCM on the compressive strength and thermal conductivity of TSCM. TSCM containing 30.0 vol% SCS@PCM reached a 28-day compressive strength of 45.3 MPa, exhibiting only a 17.4 % reduction compared to the control group, notably less than reductions observed for other SSPCMs reported in literature. Moreover, integration of SCS@PCM improved thermal storage capacities and decreased thermal fluctuation rates of TSCM, evidenced by a 4.7 ℃ decrease in peak temperature at dosage of 30.0 vol%. This study endeavors to develop an eco-friendly TSCM with excellent thermal and mechanical properties, providing insights for applications in improving the thermal regulation and energy efficiency in building roofs.

Thermal performance assessment of the dynamic rotating latent-energy-storage envelope (DRLESE) during winter

The conventional latent-energy-storage-envelope relies solely on the phase changes of Phase-Change Materials (PCMs) to regulate heat transfer, thereby lacking the effectiveness in active indoor heating or cooling. To overcome this technical barrier, the Dynamic Rotating Latent-Energy-Storage Envelope (DRLESE) was proposed to achieve active indoor heating by rotating the PCM layer. The DRLESE can absorb solar gain efficiently and release thermal energy directly indoors. In order to assess the application efficiency of DRLESE, two high-insulation walls incorporating a PCM layer were constructed, with the static one serving as a reference. A numerical heat transfer method was employed and verified an experiment. The numerical results demonstrated that compared to the Static Latent-Energy-Storage Envelope (SLESE), the DRLESE system can release stored thermal energy directly indoors by rotating the PCM layer near the interior, resulting in a released heat flow ranging from −22W/m2 to −80W/m2. However, due to differences in the heat release environment, DRLESE exhibits a lower thermal release rate leading to a reduction of up to 33.8 %∼34.8 % in its thermal release and storage capacity. The DRLESE not only limits thermal dissipation from outdoors but also provides indoor heating, while it provides the thermal energy per unit area to minimize the cooling load of the SLESE with 10.39 m2∼14.10 m2. Finally, it is identified on the present deficiencies and limitations for further the comprehensive investigations.

Comprehensive assessment of PCM integrated roof for passive building design: A study in energo-economics

There has been a notable surge in energy demand within the building sector of developing nations, particularly in the context of space cooling and heating, which constitute significant portions of energy consumption. The thermal performance of a building’s roof slab plays a crucial role in determining these heating and cooling requirements. To address this, the utilization of Phase Change Material (PCM) to enhance the building’s thermal energy storage capacity has emerged as an innovative strategy for reducing energy demand. This study assesses the thermal behavior of a building envelope integrated with macroencapsulated PCM in a real subtropical environment. Experimental setups include both a conventional slab unit (Ref–SU) devoid of PCM and a PCM (OM37) integrated slab unit (Exp–SU). Analysis entails examining variations in temperature, heat flow, thermal loadings, and maximum heat gain reduction. Economic metrics, such as electricity savings, simple payback periods, and CO2 emissions savings, are also scrutinized. The investigation aims to elucidate the efficacy and underlying parameters governing the PCM’s performance in reducing thermal loads in the Indian city of Rupnagar. Findings indicate that the Exp–SU configuration reduces indoor temperatures by 4.0 °C during sunny hours, resulting in 33.33 % more electricity savings for space cooling compared to heating, with a simple payback period of 5.7 years. Additionally, the heat flux in Exp–SU is reduced by 60.6 % compared to Ref–SU and thermal load by up to 49.8 %. Furthermore, Exp–SU achieves a 44.24 % reduction in CO2 emissions for space cooling compared to heating with a maximum heat gain reduction of 40.3 %.

One-step preparation of macropore phase change materials enabled exceptional thermal insulation, thermal energy storage and long-term stability

Phase change materials (PCMs) capable of reversibly storing and releasing thermal energy have been widely used in our daily life to reduce energy consumption. However, traditional PCMs are mainly focused on the promotion of their enthalpy and thermal conductivity yet are rarely noticed on incorporating their thermal energy storage capacity with thermal insulation performance. Herein, a kind of macropore PCMs (MPCMs) was synthesized by directly adding expanded microspheres into polyethylene glycol-based PCMs, in which the microspheres can form an internal closed porous structure in matrix for realizing thermal insulation and polyethylene glycol is used as the phase change component for achieving thermal energy storage. Amazingly, the designed MPCMs have significant latent heat storage capacity reached up to130.2 J g−1 and simultaneously possess extremely low thermal conductivity of 0.08577 W m−1 K−1. The thermal power generation system test further revealed the thermal insulation capability of these MPCMs was eleven times more than that of the commercial wood. Especially, these MPCMs with relatively low density of 0.492 g cm−3 can still maintain the remarkable tensile strength of 11.74 MPa and can also exhibit good toughness via multiple cyclic shape memory analysis. The focus of this work that is to combine the thermal insulation ability of porous materials with the thermal energy storage ability of PCMs, can effectively reduce the heat conduction meanwhile can maintain the stability of internal temperature contributed to reducing energy consumption, applying in food transportation, building energy conservation and other fields.

Multifunction integration within magnetic CNT-bridged MXene/CoNi based phase change materials

Developing advanced nanocomposite phase change materials (PCMs) integrating zero-energy thermal management, microwave absorption, photothermal therapy and electrical signal detection can promote the leapfrog development of flexible wearable electronic devices. For this goal, we propose a multidimensional collaborative strategy combining two-dimensional (2D) MXene nanosheets with metal-organic framework-derived one-dimensional (1D) carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and zero-dimensional (0D) metal nanoparticles. After encapsulating paraffin wax (PW) in three-dimensional (3D) networked multidimensional MXene/CoNi–C, the resulting composite PCMs exhibit excellent thermal energy storage capacity and long-term thermally reliable stability. Benefiting from the synergistically enhanced photothermal effects of CNTs, Co/Ni nanoparticles and MXene, PW@MXene/CoNi–C can capture photons efficiently and transfer phonons quickly, yielding an ultrahigh photothermal conversion and storage efficiency of 97.5%. Additionally, PW@MXene/CoNi–C composite PCMs exhibit high microwave absorption with a minimum reflection loss of −49.3 ​dB at 8.03 ​GHz in heat-related electronic application scenarios. More attractively, the corresponding flexible phase change film can simultaneously achieve thermal management and electromagnetic shielding of electronic devices, as well as photothermal therapy and electrical signal detection for individuals. This functional integration design provides an important reference for developing advanced flexible multifunctional wearable materials and devices.

Impact of Mass Flow Rate on Thermal Behavior of PCM-Based SWH during Charging Operations

Using phase change materials in solar water heaters presents an intriguing prospect due to their notable energy density and potential for substantial thermal energy storage capacity. In the context of active-type solar water heaters, careful consideration must be given to the water flow rate as a crucial parameter. This paper investigates the thermal dynamics of active-type solar water heaters equipped with phase change materials, examining variations in mass flow rate during the charging process. Indoor experiments utilized horizontal tanks, flat plate collectors, pumps, and solar simulators. Cylindrical capsules filled with paraffin wax were employed and arranged horizontally within the tank, while K-type thermocouples were utilized to monitor water and paraffin wax temperatures. Charging procedures were executed over 160 minutes with mass flow rate adjustments. Data analysis was performed to evaluate the system's thermal performance during charging. Results indicate higher mass flow rates correspond to increased instantaneous, cumulative heat storage, and charging efficiency. The mass flow rate notably affects the thermal efficiency of solar water heater systems incorporating phase change materials.

Protic ionic liquids mono, di, triethanolamine laurate as green phase change materials: thermal energy storage capacity and conversion to electricity

Protic ionic liquids mono, di, triethanolamine laurate as green phase change materials: thermal energy storage capacity and conversion to electricity

Effect of ferro nanofluids on mixed convection in an open cavity with phase change material

Numerical analysis of mixed convection flow in an open channel cavity was performed by placing PCM and using ferro nanofluids (water based Fe3O4 nanofluid) with different volume fractions (1.0%, 3.0% and 5.0%) as working fluids. The effect of different Richardson numbers under laminar flow conditions with constant Reynolds number was analyzed to reveal how the nanofluid volume fraction and PCM position in the cavity affect the flow and heat transfer characteristics. The main reason for considering the use of nanofluid as a working fluid with the PCM layer is the thermal control of the cavity. It has been determined that the use of ferro nanofluids has a positive effect on the thermal control of the flow by increasing the thermal energy storage capacity of the PCM. As the Ri number increased, the importance of mixed convection effects increased, and for the highest Ri number, natural convection played a dominant role, causing a 65.5% decrease in the heated wall dimensionless temperature. Since the heat flux applied for pure water at highest Ri number is one third of that applied for 5.0% nanofluid, the specified temperature increase is quite lower by comparing heat flux thanks to the nanofluid high convection capability. Different than pure water, in all PCM cases the rate of melting is higher for 5.0% ferro nanofluid due to the higher convective heat transfer. In the case of the PCM on the bottom wall, the highest thermal energy storage capacity was obtained for each working fluid and 50% more energy was stored compared to the right heated wall at the same Ri number. Moreover, the maximum average Nu number was determined for the bottom heated case and for the same Ri number at 5.0% ferro nanofluid which was obtained approximately twice as much as pure water when flow reached steady state.

Experimental investigation of heat transfer rate for building roof with corrugated sheets using phase change material (PCM)

Research on cost-effective and efficient technology that can hold enormous amounts of heat or cold in a specific volume has been ongoing for a while. Due to its isothermal behaviour throughout the phase change process and high energy storage density, latent heat storage in phase change materials (PCM) is highly appealing. The incorporation of latent heat of storage in building materials considerably aids in the energy conservation of structures, which is a major role of thermal storage. By reducing the frequency of internal air temperature swings and keeping the indoor air temperature closer to the ideal temperature for longer periods of time, increasing the building's thermal storage capacity can improve human comfort. Nonetheless, a phase change material can be chosen to accommodate every type of weather in a certain area.

Novel Wide-Working-Temperature NaNO3-KNO3-Na2SO4 Molten Salt for Solar Thermal Energy Storage.

A novel ternary eutectic salt, NaNO3-KNO3-Na2SO4 (TMS), was designed and prepared for thermal energy storage (TES) to address the issues of the narrow temperature range and low specific heat of solar salt molten salt. The thermo-physical properties of TMS-2, such as melting point, decomposition temperature, fusion enthalpy, density, viscosity, specific heat capacity and volumetric thermal energy storage capacity (ETES), were determined. Furthermore, a comparison of the thermo-physical properties between commercial solar salt and TMS-2 was carried out. TMS-2 had a melting point 6.5 °C lower and a decomposition temperature 38.93 °C higher than those of solar salt. The use temperature range of TMS molten salt was 45.43 °C larger than that of solar salt, which had been widened about 13.17%. Within the testing temperature range, the average specific heat capacity of TMS-2 (1.69 J·K-1·g-1) was 9.03% higher than that of solar salt (1.55 J·K-1·g-1). TMS-2 also showed higher density, slightly higher viscosity and higher ETES. XRD, FTIR and Raman spectra SEM showed that the composition and structure of the synthesized new molten salt were different, which explained the specific heat capacity increasing. Molecular dynamic (MD) simulation was performed to explore the different macroscopic properties of solar salt and TMS at the molecular level. The MD simulation results suggested that cation-cation and cation-anion interactions became weaker as the temperature increased and the randomness of molecular motion increased, which revealed that the interaction between the cation cluster and anion cluster became loose. The stronger interaction between Na-SO4 cation-anion clusters indicated that TMS-2 molten salt had a higher specific heat capacity than solar salt. The result of the thermal stability analysis indicated that the weight losses of solar salt and TMS-2 at 550 °C were only 27% and 53%, respectively. Both the simulation and experimental study indicated that TMS-2 is a promising candidate fluid for solar power generation systems.