Phase Change Matters

• Reduction of supercooling in paraffin phase change slurry by polyvinyl alcohol [International Journal of Refrigeration]

• Preparation, characterization, and thermal stability of double-composition shell microencapsulated phase change material by interfacial polymerization [Colloid and Polymer Science]

• Heat transfer characteristics of a hybrid thermal energy storage tank with Phase Change Materials (PCMs) during indirect charging using isothermal coil heat exchanger [Solar Energy]

• Hybrid network structure of boron nitride and graphene oxide in shape-stabilized composite phase change materials with enhanced thermal conductivity and light-to-electric energy conversion capability [Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells]

• Encapsulated Nitrates Phase Change Material Selection for Use as Thermal Storage and Heat Transfer Materials at High Temperature in Concentrated Solar Power Plants [Energies 2017]

• Novel shape stabilized phase change material based on epoxy matrix with ultrahigh cycle life for thermal energy storage [Applied Thermal Engineering]

• Thermal and electrical performance of a PV module integrated with double layers of water-saturated MEPCM [Applied Thermal Engineering]

• Investigation on thermal and mechanical characteristics of concrete mixed with shape stabilized phase change material for mix design [Construction and Building Materials]

• Thermal properties and thermal conductivity enhancement of composite phase change materials using myristyl alcohol/metal foam for solar thermal storage [Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells]

• Experimental and Numerical Study on Energy Performance of Buildings Integrated with Phase Change Materials [Energy Procedia]

• Evaluation on Performance of a Phase Change Material Based Cold Storage House [Energy Procedia]

• Using Phase Change Materials to Reduce Overheating Issues in UK Residential Buildings [Energy Procedia]

• Effect of Supercooling on the Solidification Process of the Phase Change Material [Energy Procedia]

• Experimental Investigation of a Spiral Tube Embedded Latent Thermal Energy Storage Tank Using Paraffin as PCM [Energy Procedia]

• Investigation of specific heat and latent heat enhancement in hydrate salt based TiO2 nanofluid phase change material [Applied Thermal Engineering]

• Modeling and investigation of high temperature phase change materials (PCM) in different storage tank configurations [Journal of Cleaner Production]

• Lauric acid/modified sepiolite composite as a form-stable phase change material for thermal energy storage [Applied Clay Science]

• A review on supercooling of phase change materials in thermal energy storage systems [Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews]

• Numerical calibration and experimental validation of a PCM-air heat exchanger model [Applied Thermal Engineering]

• Cold Storage for a Single-Family House in Italy [Energies]

• Thermal energy storage characteristics of poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride)-graft-PEG as polymeric solid–solid phase change materials [Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells]

• Sepiolite supported stearic acid composites for thermal energy storage [RSC Advances]

• Thermal stability of renewable diesters as phase change materials [Thermochimica Acta]

• Synthesis and properties of microencapsulated octadecane with silica shell as shape–stabilized thermal energy storage materials [Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells]

• Synthesis and characterization of novel solid-solid phase change materials with polyurethaneurea copolymer structure for thermal energy storage [RSC Advances]

• A novel multi-dimensional model for solidification process with supercooling [International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer]

• Assessment of a mattress with phase change materials using a thermal and perception test [Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science]

• Energy Accumulation Using Encapsulated Phase Change Materials with Recycled Material Components [Energy Procedia]

• Composite of Wood-Plastic and Micro-Encapsulated Phase Change Material (MEPCM) Used for Thermal Energy Storage [Applied Thermal Engineering]

• Experimental study on phase change heat transfer characteristics of alloys [International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer]

• Renewable Night Cooled Chill Water Source for Energy Efficient Indoor Radiant Cooling [International Journal of Engineering Research in Africa ]

• Applied Machine Learning: Forecasting Heat Load in District Heating System [Energy and Buildings]

• Melting inside a horizontal cylindrical capsule [Case Studies in Thermal Engineering]

• Synthesis and thermal properties of novel sodium nitrate microcapsules for high-temperature thermal energy storage [Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells]

• Natural convection in high temperature flat plate latent heat thermal energy storage systems [Applied Energy]

• Experimental investigation of paraffin wax with graphene enhancement as thermal management materials for batteries [International Conference on Electronic Packaging Technology]

• Conception and experimental investigation of a hybrid temperature control method using phase change material for permanent magnet synchronous motors [Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science]

• Formulation of Nano and Micro-Encapsulated Phase Change Materials with a Solar-Absorbing Metamaterial Shell [Journal of Nanoelectronics and Optoelectronics]

• Experimental investigations on heat content of supercooled sodium acetate trihydrate by a simple heat loss method [Solar Energy]

• Experimental investigations on cylindrical latent heat storage units with sodium acetate trihydrate composites utilizing supercooling [Applied Energy]

• Thermophysical properties of phase change emulsions prepared by D-phase emulsification [Energy Conversion and Management]

• Fluid flow and heat transfer in PCM panels arranged vertically and horizontally for application in heating systems [Renewable Energy]

• Analysis of the effect of eccentricity and operational parameters in PCM-filled single-pass shell and tube heat exchangers [Renewable Energy]

• Two performance indices of TES apparatus: comparison of MPCM slurry vs. stratified water storage tank [Energy and Buildings]

• Registration is open for the 3rd Swiss Symposium Thermal Energy Storage to be held Jan. 22, 2016, in Lucerne. Topics include PCM systems for high-temperature heat storage; seasonal storage with subcooling PCM; and cooling buildings, processes or batteries with phase change slurries. Cost is $300.

• In a paper presented at the IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference, Michael Friend and Shannon Stone of Intellectual Ventures describe the development of the Arktek DF passive storage device" for the Ebola vaccine in Sierra Leone and Guinea.

• New from Decision Databases: "Global Microencapsulation Market Research Report - Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2014 - 2021"

• New from MarketsandMarkets: "Advanced Energy Storage Systems Market - Global Forecast to 2020"

• A team from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, one of four finalists in ESA Education’s Fly Your Thesis! competition, intends to verify a model of phase change material performance in a microgravity environment. The team's goal is to lay groundwork for more effective temperature control in future space applications.

• The San Diego City Council has approved a legally binding climate action plan that commits the eighth-largest U.S. city to 100 percent renewables and a 50 reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. 

• Experimental characterisation of sub-cooling in hydrated salt phase change materials [Applied Thermal Engineering]

• Research on the preparation and properties of lauric acid/expanded perlite phase change materials [Energy and Buildings]

• The potential of lightweight low-energy houses with hybrid adaptable thermal storage: comparing the performance of promising concepts [Energy and Buildings]

• Ice thermal energy storage (ITES) for air-conditioning application in full and partial load operating modes [International Journal of Refrigeration]

• Reproducibility of solidification and melting processes in a latent heat thermal storage tank [International Journal of Refrigeration]

A review of research on PCM-based free cooling in buildings suggests that increased thermal conductivity, wider governmental support and heightened public awareness are essential to wider adoption of the technology. Among the other conclusions by a team of researchers at two universities in India:

• The free-cooling concept is best suited for less humid and maximum diurnal temperature range regions. However, with careful design of heat exchangers along with dehumidification of air, free cooling can be effectively implemented even in warm and humid areas.

• By decreasing the inlet air temperature with optimal inlet air velocity, solidification time can be reduced and thus the PCM can be charged in less time.

• Supercooling can be reduced by adding nucleating agents but cannot be mitigated completely.

• Mapping of free-cooling potential zones and construction of large-scale demonstration projects are essential to making the technology commercially viable.

• Commercializing and mass implementation of free-cooling technology in residential sectors will curtail air conditioner use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352152X15300128