Comparative analyses of phase change materials as thermal storage medium in solar systems

Application of phase change materials for solar thermal systems has attracted to storing thermal energy as the availability of solar energy is intermittent. Using Organic materials such as paraffin waxes have been used in many thermal energy systems for their capability to store latent heat energy storage because of their advantageous like thermal properties, economic and availability point of view. In this study, it is exanimated and compared the thermo-physical properties of several phase change materials consist of a type of paraffin and three mineral compounds provided by combination of magnesium nitrate hexa-hydrate and ammonium nitrate at different temperature intervals for the thermal energy storage specifically in solar heating systems. For this purpose several thermo-physical properties such as the solidus and liquidus temperature of the material, the specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity, enthalpy of phase change and sensible heat have been measured and compared.

Keywords:

Thermal energy storage , Organic material , Phase change materials , Paraffin