Correction of the enthalpy–temperature curve of phase change materials obtained from the T-History method based on a transient heat conduction model
Journal article, 2017

Utilizing the latent heat of materials undergoing phase transitions, or so called phase change materials (PCMs), for thermal energy storage offers higher storage densities compared to purely sensible thermal energy storages. For evaluating different PCMs the T-History method has often been applied by researchers in order to determine the characteristic enthalpy versus temperature curves. In previous research many different T-History setups are described where the sample holder is insulated. The intention is to decrease internal temperature gradients inside the sample holder with PCM. However, in the mathematical model for evaluating the enthalpy curve of the PCM based on the measured temperature response, the thermal mass of the insulation around the sample holder has been neglected. In this study, a one dimensional numerical transient heat transfer model is used to show that neglecting the insulation thermal mass leads to a systematic error on the obtained enthalpy versus temperature curves. The error is caused by deviations in the transient heat flows for reference and PCM sample when both are cooled down or heated, respectively. These deviations can be corrected by introducing a correction factor.

Phase change material (PCM)

Latent heat energy storage

Numerical simulation

Thermal analysis

T-History

Author

Pepe Tan

Chalmers, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Building Technology

Michael Brütting

Das Bayerische Zentrum fur Angewandte Energieforschung e.V.

Stephan Vidi

Das Bayerische Zentrum fur Angewandte Energieforschung e.V.

Hans-Peter Ebert

Das Bayerische Zentrum fur Angewandte Energieforschung e.V.

Pär Johansson

Chalmers, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Building Technology

Helen Jansson

Chalmers, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Building Technology

Angela Sasic Kalagasidis

Chalmers, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Building Technology

International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer

0017-9310 (ISSN)

Vol. 105 February 2017 573-588

Demonstration plant for cold storage in phase change materials

Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (NV-07079-16), 2017-01-01 -- 2018-06-30.

Evaluation and optimization of a heat storage with phase change materials for better energy management in buildings - field studies, modeling and laboratory experiments

Swedish Energy Agency (39695-1), 2015-01-01 -- 2017-12-31.

Subject Categories

Energy Engineering

Other Materials Engineering

Building Technologies

Areas of Advance

Energy

DOI

10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2016.10.001

More information

Latest update

7/19/2018