Experimental Investigation of Performances of Microcapsule Phase Change Material for Thermal Energy Storage

• Published in: Chemical engineering & technology 2010-02, Vol.33 (2), p.227-230
• Main Authors: Fang, G., Li, H., Liu, X., Wu, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemical engineering; Exact sciences and technology; Latent heat systems; Microcapsules; Phase change material; Thermal energy storage
• ISSN: 0930-7516; 1521-4125
• DOI: 10.1002/ceat.200900224

Performances of microcapsule phase change material (MPCM) for thermal energy storage are investigated. The MPCM for thermal energy storage is prepared by a complex coacervation method with gelatin and acacia as wall materials and paraffin as core material in an emulsion system. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to study the microstructure of the MPCM. In thermal analysis, a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) was employed to determine the melting temperature, melting latent heat, solidification temperature, and solidification latent heat of the MPCM for thermal energy storage. The SEM micrograph indicates that the MPCM has been successfully synthesized and that the particle size of the MPCM is about 81 μm. The DSC output results show that the melting temperature of the MPCM is 52.05 °C, the melting latent heat is 141.03 kJ/kg, the solidification temperature is 59.68 °C, and the solidification latent heat is 121.59 kJ/kg. The results prove that the MPCM for thermal energy storage has a larger phase change latent heat and suitable phase change temperature, so it can be considered as an efficient thermal energy storage material for heat utilizing systems. Microcapsule phase change material for thermal energy storage is prepared by a complex coacervation method with gelatin and acacia as wall materials and paraffin as core material in an emulsion system. The microencapsulated paraffin has a larger phase change latent heat, suitable phase change temperature, and better thermal stability, proving its great potential for thermal energy storage systems.