Experimental validation of the exact analytical solution to the steady periodic heat transfer problem in a PCM layer

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) Vol. 140; pp. 1131 - 1147
• Main Authors: Mazzeo, Domenico, Oliveti, Giuseppe, de Gracia, Alvaro, Coma, Julià, Solé, Aran, Cabeza, Luisa F.
• Format: Journal Article Publication
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2017; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Analytical model; Assaigs de materials; DSC; Edificació; Evaluation; Experimental validation; Heat flux; Heat transfer; Internal energy; Materials; Materials de construcció; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Mortar; Morter; Morter (Material de construcció); New procedure; PCM; Phase change materials; Residential buildings; Studies; Testing; Thermal design; Thermal storage; Thermophysical models; Thermophysical properties; Àrees temàtiques de la UPC; Analytical model; Experimental validation; PCM; New procedure; DSC; Thermophysical properties
• ISSN: 0360-5442; 1873-6785
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2017.08.045

Phase change materials (PCM) are used in many industrial and residential applications for their advantageous characteristic of high capacity of latent thermal storage by means of an isothermal process. In this context, it is very useful to have predictive mathematical models for the analysis of the thermal performance and for the thermal design of these layers. In this work, an experimental validation of an analytical model that resolves the steady periodic heat transfer problem in a finite layer of PCM is presented. The experimental investigation was conducted employing a PCM with thermophysical and thermochemical behavior very close to those hypothesized in the formulation of the analytical model. For the evaluation of the thermophysical properties of the PCM sample used, an experimental procedure created by the authors was employed. In all tests realized in a sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal periodic regime, the comparison between the measured and calculated trends of the temperature at different sample heights and of the surface heat fluxes show an excellent agreement. Moreover, also having verified the analytical total stored energy, the analytical model constitutes a valid instrument for the evaluation of the latent and sensible contribution and the trend in time of the position of the bi-phase interface. •An experimental device containing two controlled chambers is employed.•PCM thermophysical properties with a new experimental procedure are evaluated.•These properties are compared with those provided by the manufacturer and by DSC.•The experimental validation of a Stefan Problem in a finite PCM layer is addressed.•Analytical model is validated in sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal periodic regime.