Experimental investigation on stability and thermal characteristics of nanocomposite particles dispersed paraffin wax for thermal energy storage systems

Abstract

In view of mismatch between energy supply and demand, newlinedeveloping an efficient and cost effective energy storage device is as newlineimportant as the exploration and utilization of new sources of energy. newlineThermal energy storage systems allow the storage of high energy densities in newlineorder to shift the energy demand and improve the reliability in the use of newlinerenewable energy sources. Latent Heat Energy Storage System (LHESS) newlineequipped with Phase Change Material (PCM) is considered as a promising newlineenergy storage system of solar thermal energy due to its operation at newlineisothermal condition. Paraffin wax is the commonly used PCM to store low to newlinemedium temperature thermal energy due to its better thermal performance newlinecharacteristics. But its poor thermal conductivity limits its application in newlinethermal energy storage system. Thermal conductivity of paraffin wax can be newlineenhanced by dispersing higher thermal conductivity nanoparticles as newlinedemonstrated in previous research studies. newlineIn the present research study, thermal performance parameters of newlineparaffin wax are improved by dispersing a newly synthesised titania silver newlinenanocomposite particle (TiO2-Ag NCP) at its optimum mass concentration. newlineMass concentration of NCP is taken as 0.5, 1 and 1.5 wt. %. Titania silver newlinenanocomposite particles are synthesised by sol-gel process. Ball milling newlineprocess is also carried out in order to assess the feasibility of size reduction of newlinethe synthesised NCP. Standard characterisation studies are conducted for both newlinethe unmilled and ballmilled NCP and the results are compared. newline