Form-stable quaternary nitrate salt-based composite phase change material with low melting temperature for low-medium-temperature thermal energy storage

doi:10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2023.0840

Abstract

Abstract:

A form-stable molten salt-based composite phase change material (PCM) with a low melting point suitable for low-medium-temperature thermal energy storage was prepared and investigated. A so-called cold compressing and hot sintering approach was used for the material preparation, in which a eutectic quaternary nitrate of NaNO₃-NaNO₂-KNO₂-LiNO₃ is utilized as the PCM, MgO as structure supporting material and graphite as thermal conductivity enhancer. A series of characterizations were performed to evaluate the composite microstructure, chemical compatibility, thermal properties, and cycling stability. The results showed that there was no chemical reaction among the quaternary nitrate, MgO, and graphite before and after sintering, indicating excellent chemical compatibility and stability in the composite. Among the different composite mass ratios, the 6∶4 quaternary nitrate-to-MgO mass ratio was optimal. In addition, the composite exhibited an excellent appearance when containing 8% graphite. A fairly low melting point of approximately 70 ℃ and a relatively high decomposition temperature of 610 ℃ were observed, offering the composite a large energy storage density exceeding 749 kJ/kg in the temperature range of 50—580 ℃. The thermal conductivity of the composite containing 8% graphite can be increased from 0.41 W/(m·K) to 0.77 W/(m·K). The composite exhibited excellent cycling stability after 150 heating-cooling cycles. This salt-based composite with a low melting point and a large temperature range is an excellent candidate for thermal energy storage, and this study offers a basis for its practical application in low-medium-temperature thermal energy storage fields.

Key words: quaternary nitrate, composite PCM, low melting point, large temperature range, thermal energy storage

CLC Number:

TK 512

Rongyu XU, Haitao LU, Hedu GUO, Zhanyun TANG, Qi LI, Yuting WU. Form-stable quaternary nitrate salt-based composite phase change material with low melting temperature for low-medium-temperature thermal energy storage[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2024, 13(5): 1451-1459.

Figures/Tables 11

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样品	A1	A2	A3	A4	A5	A6	A7	A8
四元盐/%	20	30	40	50	55	60	70	80
MgO/%	80	70	60	50	45	40	30	20
泄漏情况	●	●	●	●	●	●	○	▲

样品	升温						降温
样品	T_onset/℃	T_peak/℃	T_end/℃	c_p /[J/(g·K)]	∆H_mea/(J/g)	∆H_cal/(J/g)	T_onset/℃	T_peak/℃	T_end/℃	∆H_mea/(J/g)
四元硝酸盐	68.17	75.06	79.71	1.41	110.6	110.6	103.6	93	80.5	80.19
60QN-40MgO	70.81	76.50	80.09	0.7	65.92	66.36	103.1	89.7	80.9	44.31
复合材料	70.09	76.77	80.12	0.93	59.57	61.49	104.8	96.1	88.5	40.66

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