IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v15y2022i3p1192-d743312.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Graphene-Based Phase Change Composite Nano-Materials for Thermal Storage Applications

Author

Listed:
  • Marina Tselepi

    (Department of Physics, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece)

  • Costas Prouskas

    (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece)

  • Dimitrios G. Papageorgiou

    (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece)

  • Isaac. E. Lagaris

    (Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece)

  • Georgios A. Evangelakis

    (Department of Physics, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
    Institute of Materials Science and Computing, 45110 Ioannina, Greece)

Abstract

We report results concerning the functionalization of graphene-based nanoplatelets for improving the thermal energy storage capacity of commonly used phase change materials (PCMs). The goal of this study was to enhance the low thermal conductivity of the PCMs, while preserving their specific and latent heats. We focused on wax-based PCMs, and we tested several types of graphene nanoparticles (GNPs) at a set of different concentrations. Both the size and shape of the GNPs were found to be important factors affecting the PCM’s thermal properties. These were evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry measurements and a modified enthalpy-based water bath method. We found that a small addition of GNPs (1% weight) with high aspect ratio is sufficient to double the thermal conductivity of several widely used PCMs. Our results suggest a simple and efficient procedure for improving the thermal properties of PCMs used in thermal energy storage applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Marina Tselepi & Costas Prouskas & Dimitrios G. Papageorgiou & Isaac. E. Lagaris & Georgios A. Evangelakis, 2022. "Graphene-Based Phase Change Composite Nano-Materials for Thermal Storage Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-12, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:3:p:1192-:d:743312
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/3/1192/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/3/1192/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Khodadadi, J.M. & Fan, Liwu & Babaei, Hasan, 2013. "Thermal conductivity enhancement of nanostructure-based colloidal suspensions utilized as phase change materials for thermal energy storage: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 418-444.
    2. Gupta, Munish & Singh, Vinay & Kumar, Rajesh & Said, Z., 2017. "A review on thermophysical properties of nanofluids and heat transfer applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 638-670.
    3. Suganthi, K.S. & Rajan, K.S., 2017. "Metal oxide nanofluids: Review of formulation, thermo-physical properties, mechanisms, and heat transfer performance," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 226-255.
    4. Zamzamian, Amirhossein & KeyanpourRad, Mansoor & KianiNeyestani, Maryam & Jamal-Abad, Milad Tajik, 2014. "An experimental study on the effect of Cu-synthesized/EG nanofluid on the efficiency of flat-plate solar collectors," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 658-664.
    5. Colangelo, Gianpiero & Favale, Ernani & de Risi, Arturo & Laforgia, Domenico, 2013. "A new solution for reduced sedimentation flat panel solar thermal collector using nanofluids," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 80-93.
    6. Arthur, Owen & Karim, M.A., 2016. "An investigation into the thermophysical and rheological properties of nanofluids for solar thermal applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 739-755.
    7. Jouybari, H. Javaniyan & Saedodin, S. & Zamzamian, A. & Nimvari, M. Eshagh & Wongwises, S., 2017. "Effects of porous material and nanoparticles on the thermal performance of a flat plate solar collector: An experimental study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(PB), pages 1407-1418.
    8. Li, Min, 2013. "A nano-graphite/paraffin phase change material with high thermal conductivity," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 25-30.
    9. Elsheikh, A.H. & Sharshir, S.W. & Mostafa, Mohamed E. & Essa, F.A. & Ahmed Ali, Mohamed Kamal, 2018. "Applications of nanofluids in solar energy: A review of recent advances," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3483-3502.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Elsheikh, A.H. & Sharshir, S.W. & Mostafa, Mohamed E. & Essa, F.A. & Ahmed Ali, Mohamed Kamal, 2018. "Applications of nanofluids in solar energy: A review of recent advances," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3483-3502.
    2. Bhalla, Vishal & Tyagi, Himanshu, 2018. "Parameters influencing the performance of nanoparticles-laden fluid-based solar thermal collectors: A review on optical properties," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 12-42.
    3. Seyed Reza Shamshirgaran & Hussain H. Al-Kayiem & Korada V. Sharma & Mostafa Ghasemi, 2020. "State of the Art of Techno-Economics of Nanofluid-Laden Flat-Plate Solar Collectors for Sustainable Accomplishment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-52, November.
    4. Sundar, L. Syam & Singh, Manoj K. & Punnaiah, V. & Sousa, Antonio C.M., 2018. "Experimental investigation of Al2O3/water nanofluids on the effectiveness of solar flat-plate collectors with and without twisted tape inserts," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 820-833.
    5. Fan, Li-Wu & Fang, Xin & Wang, Xiao & Zeng, Yi & Xiao, Yu-Qi & Yu, Zi-Tao & Xu, Xu & Hu, Ya-Cai & Cen, Ke-Fa, 2013. "Effects of various carbon nanofillers on the thermal conductivity and energy storage properties of paraffin-based nanocomposite phase change materials," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 163-172.
    6. Bhalla, Vishal & Khullar, Vikrant & Tyagi, Himanshu, 2018. "Experimental investigation of photo-thermal analysis of blended nanoparticles (Al2O3/Co3O4) for direct absorption solar thermal collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 616-626.
    7. Fan, Li-Wu & Yao, Xiao-Li & Wang, Xiao & Wu, Yu-Yue & Liu, Xue-Ling & Xu, Xu & Yu, Zi-Tao, 2015. "Non-isothermal crystallization of aqueous nanofluids with high aspect-ratio carbon nano-additives for cold thermal energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 193-201.
    8. Xu, Yanyan & Xue, Yanqin & Qi, Hong & Cai, Weihua, 2021. "An updated review on working fluids, operation mechanisms, and applications of pulsating heat pipes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    9. Leong, K.Y. & Ong, Hwai Chyuan & Amer, N.H. & Norazrina, M.J. & Risby, M.S. & Ku Ahmad, K.Z., 2016. "An overview on current application of nanofluids in solar thermal collector and its challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 1092-1105.
    10. Xiao, Xin & Jia, Hongwei & Wen, Dongsheng & Zhao, Xudong, 2020. "Thermal performance analysis of a solar energy storage unit encapsulated with HITEC salt/copper foam/nanoparticles composite," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    11. Zhang, P. & Xiao, X. & Ma, Z.W., 2016. "A review of the composite phase change materials: Fabrication, characterization, mathematical modeling and application to performance enhancement," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 472-510.
    12. Parameshwaran, R. & Deepak, K. & Saravanan, R. & Kalaiselvam, S., 2014. "Preparation, thermal and rheological properties of hybrid nanocomposite phase change material for thermal energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 320-330.
    13. Nomura, Takahiro & Tabuchi, Kazuki & Zhu, Chunyu & Sheng, Nan & Wang, Shuangfeng & Akiyama, Tomohiro, 2015. "High thermal conductivity phase change composite with percolating carbon fiber network," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 678-685.
    14. Tembhare, Saurabh P. & Barai, Divya P. & Bhanvase, Bharat A., 2022. "Performance evaluation of nanofluids in solar thermal and solar photovoltaic systems: A comprehensive review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    15. Choudhary, Suraj & Sachdeva, Anish & Kumar, Pramod, 2020. "Investigation of the stability of MgO nanofluid and its effect on the thermal performance of flat plate solar collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(P1), pages 1801-1814.
    16. Muñoz-Sánchez, Belén & Nieto-Maestre, Javier & Iparraguirre-Torres, Iñigo & García-Romero, Ana & Sala-Lizarraga, Jose M., 2018. "Molten salt-based nanofluids as efficient heat transfer and storage materials at high temperatures. An overview of the literature," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3924-3945.
    17. Raj, Pankaj & Subudhi, Sudhakar, 2018. "A review of studies using nanofluids in flat-plate and direct absorption solar collectors," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 54-74.
    18. Ma, Zhenjun & Lin, Wenye & Sohel, M. Imroz, 2016. "Nano-enhanced phase change materials for improved building performance," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 1256-1268.
    19. Hussien, Ahmed A. & Abdullah, Mohd Z. & Al-Nimr, Moh’d A., 2016. "Single-phase heat transfer enhancement in micro/minichannels using nanofluids: Theory and applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 733-755.
    20. Suganthi, K.S. & Leela Vinodhan, V. & Rajan, K.S., 2014. "Heat transfer performance and transport properties of ZnO–ethylene glycol and ZnO–ethylene glycol–water nanofluid coolants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 548-559.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:3:p:1192-:d:743312. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.