Experimental and numerical study on the impacts of various long carbon fiber inserts on the thermal performance of phase change materials

Conference · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2022

OSTI ID:1835207

Zhou, Xinzhang  ^[1]; Wang, Lingshi  ^[1]; Naskar, Amit K.  ^[1]; Liu, Xiaobing  ^[1]

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1. ORNL

In thermal energy storage systems, phase change materials (PCMs) are widely used to provide efficient storing and extraction of thermal energy. However, most PCMs have low thermal conductivities, which limit the heat transfer of the latent energy inward/outward. In this study, the impacts of various fiber inserts on the solidification and melting processes with PCM were investigated by experiments and simulations. It was found that long anisotropic carbon fibers with high thermal conductivities can not only increase the heat transfer within PCM by enlarging hot-cold interface areas, but also act as crystallization nuclei and increase the solidification of PCM during the charging process. Recalescence of PCM during solidification was observed. COMSOL models were used to understand the thermal transfer mechanisms. COMSOL Multiphysics models of a single carbon fiber filament in PCM showed that the anisotropy in thermal conductivities controlled the radial and axial heat transfer ratios along its fiber axis and can enhance both the solidification and melting processes.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1835207
• Resource Relation: Conference: 13th International Conference on Applied Energy (ICAE) - Bangkok, , Thailand - 11/29/2021 8:00:00 PM-12/2/2021 8:00:00 PM
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English