Paraffin/diatomite composite phase change material incorporated cement-based composite for thermal energy storage

• Published in: Applied energy Vol. 105; pp. 229 - 237
• Main Authors: Xu, Biwan, Li, Zongjin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; cement; Cement-based composite; Cements; Composite materials; Compressive strength; diatomaceous earth; Diatomite; Differential scanning calorimetry; drying; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; heat; melting point; Paraffin; Paraffins; Phase change material (PCM); Phase change materials; scanning electron microscopes; Scanning electron microscopy; shrinkage; specific heat; thermal conductivity; Thermal energy; Thermal energy storage; thermal stability; thermogravimetry; Transport and storage of energy; Phase change material (PCM); Thermal energy storage; Cement-based composite; Diatomite; Paraffin; Cement; PCM material; Composite material
• ISSN: 0306-2619; 1872-9118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.01.005

► Paraffin/DP composite has melting temperature 41.11°C and enthalpy 70.51J/g. ► Paraffin/DP composite is form-stable. ► Paraffin/DP composite leads to a maximum drying shrinkage strain reduction 80.7%. ► Increasing paraffin/DP composite amount improves TESC heat storage capacity. In this study, thermal energy storage cement-based composite (TESC) was developed by incorporating paraffin/diatomite (DP) composite phase change material (PCM). Paraffin/DP composite PCM was firstly fabricated at mix proportion (paraffin: DP) of 0.9:1.0. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) results show that paraffin can be well impregnated into DP pores and has good compatibility with it. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results reveal that paraffin/DP composite PCM has melting temperature and latent heat of 41.11°C and 70.51J/g, respectively. Good thermal stability is observed for this fabricated composite PCM by using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) method. Furthermore, paraffin/DP composite PCM was incorporated in cement-based composite at 10%, 15%, 20% and 30%, by weight of cement. It is found that in comparison with control normal cement-based composite, maximum reductions on 28-day compressive strength and flexural strength, drying shrinkage strain and thermal conductivity by incorporation of paraffin/DP composite PCM are 48.7%, 47.5%, 80.7% and 33.6%, respectively. Good thermal energy storage performance of TESC is clearly suggested by results of specific heat capacity test and heating test.