An organic PCM storage system with adjustable melting temperature

• Published in: Solar energy Vol. 46; no. 5; pp. 275 - 278
• Main Authors: Kauranen, P., Peippo, K., Lund, P.D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 1991; Elsevier
• Subjects: 142000 - Solar Energy- Heat Storage- (1980-); 320107 - Energy Conservation, Consumption, & Utilization- Building Systems- (1987-); Applied sciences; BUILDING MATERIALS; CALORIMETRY; CARBOXYLIC ACIDS; CLIMATES; DESIGN; DIAGRAMS; DISPERSIONS; Energy; ENERGY BALANCE; ENERGY CONSERVATION; ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; ENERGY SYSTEMS; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; HEATING SYSTEMS; Heating, air conditioning and ventilation; MATERIALS; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; MELTING POINTS; MIXTURES; MODIFICATIONS; ORGANIC ACIDS; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS; PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS; PHASE DIAGRAMS; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; SOLAR ENERGY; SOLAR EQUIPMENT; SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS; Technical data: comfort, insulation, loads, etc; THERMAL COMFORT; THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT; THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES; TRANSITION TEMPERATURE; WALLS; Latent heat storage; Carboxylic acid; Buildings; Selection criterion; Procedure; PCM material; Passive system; Melting point; Organic compounds
• ISSN: 0038-092X; 1471-1257
• DOI: 10.1016/0038-092X(91)90094-D

A proper storage temperature is an important criterion for selecting a phase change material (PCM) for a passive solar heating application. Here we describe a novel procedure to produce a mixture of carboxylic acids with a melting temperature adjustable to the climate specific requirements. The approach is based on the ideal solution model and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The applicability of the method is demonstrated and it is also applied to a PCM wall design. The accuracy of the theoretical model is ±2°C in the temperature range of 20°–30°C and even a ±0.5°C accuracy can be obtained by the experimental procedure.