Influence of 2-D nanofillers on the thermal conductivity of composite PCMs

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4239.2014.03.010

Abstract

Abstract: Paraffin-based composite phase change materials (PCMs) were prepared by using graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and boron nitride nanosheets (BNNs). Effective thermal conductivity of the PCM composites in solid state was measured at 20 ℃ using a transient plane source technique. It was shown that the thermal conductivity increased linearly with increasing particle loading for both nanofillers. The thermal conductivity enhancement of the GNPs/paraffin composites was found to be much higher than the BNNs/paraffin composites. The effective medium theory was used to analyse the thermal conductivity of the composites. It was found that, despite of similar shape, size and thermal conductivity of the two nanofillers, the calculated interfacial thermal resistance of BNNs was two orders of magnitude higher than that of GNPs, which explained, at least partially, the observed better performance of the PCM composite containing GNPs.

Key words: 2-D nanofillers, thermal conductivity, composite PCMs, effective medium model, thermal interface resistance

CLC Number:

TB332

DING Qing, FANG Xin, FAN Liwu, XU Xu, YU Zitao, HU Yacai. Influence of 2-D nanofillers on the thermal conductivity of composite PCMs[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2014, 3(3): 250-255.

References

[1] Chu S,Majumdar A. Opportunities and challenges for a sustainable energy future[J]. Nature ,2012,488(7411):294-303.
[2] Farid M M,Khudhair A M,Razack S A K, et al . A review on phase change energy storage:Materials and applications[J]. Energy Conversion and Management ,2004,45(9):1597-1615.
[3] Sharma S D,Sagara K. Latent heat storage materials and systems:A review[J]. International Journal of Green Energy ,2005,2(1):1-56.
[4] Fan L W,Khodadadi J M. Thermal conductivity enhancement of phase change materials for thermal energy storage:A review[J]. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews ,2011,15(1):24-46.
[5] Frusteri F,Leonardi V,Vasta S, et al . Thermal conductivity measurement of a PCM based storage system containing carbon fibers[J]. Applied Thermal Engineering ,2005,25:1623-1633.
[6] Li S Z,Song Y Z,Song Y, et al . Carbon foams with high compressive strength derived from mixtures of mesocarbon microbeads and mesophase pitch[J]. Carbon ,2007,45:2092-2097.
[7] Oya T,Nomura T,Tsubotab M, et al . Thermal conductivity enhancement of erythritol as PCM by using graphite and nickel particles[J]. Applied Thermal Engineering ,2013,61:825-828.
[8] Khodadai J M,Fan L W,Babaei H. Thermal conductivity enhancement of nanostructure-based colloidal suspensions utilized as phase change materials for thermal energy storage:A review[J]. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews ,2013,24:418-444.
[9] Khodadai J M,Fan L W,Hosseinizadeh S F. Nanoparticle-enhanced phase change materials (NEPCM) with great potential for improved thermal energy storage[J]. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer ,2007,34(5):534-543.
[10] Zhang Hongsheng(张鸿声),Wang Nan(汪南),Zhu Dongsheng(朱冬生), et al . Study on performance of nano-copper/paraffin wax composite phase change material[J]. Material Review (材料导报),2011,25(1):173-176.
[11] Zeng J L,Sun L X,Xu F. Thermal conductivity enhancement of Ag nanowires on an organic phase change materials[J]. Journal of Thermal Analysis Calorimetry ,2010,101(1):385-389.
[12] Wang J F,Xie H Q,Li Y, et al . PW based phase change nanocomposites containing γ-Al 2 O 3 [J]. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry ,2010,102(2):709-713.
[13] Zeng J L,Cao Z,Yang D W, et al . Effects of MWNTs on phase change enthalpy and thermal conductivity of a solid-liquid organic PCM[J]. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry ,2009,95(2):507-512.
[14] Cui Y B,Liu C H,Hu S, et al . The experimental exploration of carbon nanofiber and carbon nanotube additives on thermal behavior of phase change materials[J]. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells ,2011,95(4):1208-1212.
[15] Wang J F,Xie H Q,Xin Z. Thermal properties of paraffin based composites containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes[J]. Thermochim Acta ,2009,488(1):39-42.
[16] Yavari F,Fard H R,Pashayi K, et al . Enhanced thermal conductivity in a nanostructured phase change composite due to low concentration graphene additives[J]. Journal of Physical Chemistry C ,2011,115(17):8753-8758.
[17] Xiang J L,Drzal L T. Investigation of exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets ( x GNP) in improving thermal conductivity of paraffin wax-based phase change material[J]. Solar Energy and Material Solar Cells ,2011,95(7):1811-1818.
[18] Ramanathan T,Abdala A A,Stankovich S, et al . Functionalized graphene sheets for polymer nanocomposites[J]. Nature Nanotechnology ,2008,3(6):327-331.
[19] Yu Z T,Fang X,Fan L W, et al . Increased thermal conductivity of liquid paraffin-based suspensions in thee of carbon nano-additives of various sizes and shapes[J]. Carbon ,2013,53:277-285.
[20] Fan L W,Fang X,Wang X, et al . Effects of various carbon nanofillers on the thermal conductivity and energy storage properties of paraffin-based nanocomposite phase change materials[J]. Appiled Energy ,2013,110:163-172.
[21] Xu M S,Liang T,Shi M M, et al . Graphene-like two-dimensional materials[J]. Chemical Reviews ,2013,113(5):3766-3798.
[22] Zhi C Y,Bando Y S,Tang C C, et al . Large scale fabrication of boron nitride nanosheets and their utilization in polymeric composites with improved thermal and mechanical properties[J]. Advanced Materials ,2009,21(28):2889-2893.
[23] Nurmawati M H,Siow K S,Rasiah I J. Analysis of phase change material for use as thermal interface material[J]. International Journal of Polymer Analysis and Characterization ,2004,9(4):213-228.
[24] Lin W,Zhang R W,Wong C P. Modeling of thermal conductivity of graphite nanosheet composites[J]. Journal of Electronic Materials ,2010,39(3):268-272.
[25] Jo I,Michael T P,Kin J, et al . Thermal conductivity and phonon transport in suspended few-layer hexagonal boron nitride[J]. Nano Letters ,2013,13(2):550-554.
[26] Michael T P,Ji H X,Ruoff R S, et al . Thermal transport in three-dimensional foam architectures of few-layer graphene and ultrathin graphite[J]. Nano Letters ,2012,12(6):2959-2964.
[27] Fang X,Fan L W,Ding Q, et al . Increased thermal conductivity of eicosane-based composite phase change materials in the presence of graphene nanoplatelets[J]. Energy and Fuels ,2013,27(7):4041-4047.