Characterization of Enhanced Biobased Phase Change Material with Graphene Nanoplatelets
Abstract
Energy consumption is expected to continue rising and in conjunction with greater environmental concern it has boosted the development of renewable and sustainable energy sources, including storage media materials for thermal energy storage (TES) systems. Biobased PCMs are materials derived from renewable and environmentally friendly resources, such as palm-oil, and are a great solution as they have similar properties as paraffins-based PCMs. Therefore, in view of designing a nano enhanced PCM (NEPCM) based on a biobased PCM, CrodaTherm60, was selected due to its high latent heat capacity as well as its medium melting point, 60°C, making it suitable for heat storage applications in solar heating systems. Whilst the PCM selected has desirable properties, they still possess limitations, such as its low thermal conductivity; thus, in purpose of improving the PCM rate problem carbon-based nanoparticles, graphene nanoplatelets (GNP), were incorporated into it.