Assessing the potential for multi-functional “hybrid” porous Al-phase change material structures

This study reports the potential for porous aluminium structures, containing porosity in the region of 50–80%, to provide enhancement of the rate of energy capture in phase change materials, whilst being capable of providing a basic mechanical function. The energy stored and the time for thermal exc...

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Main Author: Kennedy, Andrew R.
Format: Article
Published: Elsevier 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/37253/
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author Kennedy, Andrew R.
author_facet Kennedy, Andrew R.
author_sort Kennedy, Andrew R.
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description This study reports the potential for porous aluminium structures, containing porosity in the region of 50–80%, to provide enhancement of the rate of energy capture in phase change materials, whilst being capable of providing a basic mechanical function. The energy stored and the time for thermal exchange between warm water (at 65 °C) and porous aluminium, pure PCM and an Al-PCM hybrid structure was measured. It was observed that the melting of the PCM within the hybrid structure can be greatly accelerated by the continuous, porous aluminium structure. The energy uptake per second was found to follow an approximately linear dependence on the thermal effusivity for the material. This knowledge was used to predict the potential for enhancement of the rate of energy capture, by varying the porosity in the structure, whilst also estimating the detriment to the energy storage density and the mechanical strength. Appreciating this trade off in performance and properties is vital to the design of multi-functional porous structures.
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spelling nottingham-372532020-05-04T18:06:15Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/37253/ Assessing the potential for multi-functional “hybrid” porous Al-phase change material structures Kennedy, Andrew R. This study reports the potential for porous aluminium structures, containing porosity in the region of 50–80%, to provide enhancement of the rate of energy capture in phase change materials, whilst being capable of providing a basic mechanical function. The energy stored and the time for thermal exchange between warm water (at 65 °C) and porous aluminium, pure PCM and an Al-PCM hybrid structure was measured. It was observed that the melting of the PCM within the hybrid structure can be greatly accelerated by the continuous, porous aluminium structure. The energy uptake per second was found to follow an approximately linear dependence on the thermal effusivity for the material. This knowledge was used to predict the potential for enhancement of the rate of energy capture, by varying the porosity in the structure, whilst also estimating the detriment to the energy storage density and the mechanical strength. Appreciating this trade off in performance and properties is vital to the design of multi-functional porous structures. Elsevier 2016-08-22 Article PeerReviewed Kennedy, Andrew R. (2016) Assessing the potential for multi-functional “hybrid” porous Al-phase change material structures. Materials Letters, 185 . pp. 339-341. ISSN 1873-4979 Porous materials; Metallic composites; Thermal properties; Energy storage and conversion http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167577X16313982 doi:10.1016/j.matlet.2016.08.104 doi:10.1016/j.matlet.2016.08.104
spellingShingle Porous materials; Metallic composites; Thermal properties; Energy storage and conversion
Kennedy, Andrew R.
Assessing the potential for multi-functional “hybrid” porous Al-phase change material structures
title Assessing the potential for multi-functional “hybrid” porous Al-phase change material structures
title_full Assessing the potential for multi-functional “hybrid” porous Al-phase change material structures
title_fullStr Assessing the potential for multi-functional “hybrid” porous Al-phase change material structures
title_full_unstemmed Assessing the potential for multi-functional “hybrid” porous Al-phase change material structures
title_short Assessing the potential for multi-functional “hybrid” porous Al-phase change material structures
title_sort assessing the potential for multi-functional “hybrid” porous al-phase change material structures
topic Porous materials; Metallic composites; Thermal properties; Energy storage and conversion
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/37253/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/37253/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/37253/