Assessing the Potentiality of Animal Fat Based-Bio Phase Change Materials (PCM) for Building Applications: An Innovative Multipurpose Thermal Investigation

Claudia Fabiani, Anna Laura Pisello, Marco Barbanera, Luisa F. Cabeza and Franco Cotana
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Claudia Fabiani: CIRIAF, Interuniversity Research Center, University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti, 63-06125 Perugia, Italy
Anna Laura Pisello: CIRIAF, Interuniversity Research Center, University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti, 63-06125 Perugia, Italy
Marco Barbanera: CIRIAF, Interuniversity Research Center, University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti, 63-06125 Perugia, Italy
Luisa F. Cabeza: GREiA Research Group, INSPIRES Research Centre, Universitat de Lleida, Pere de Cabrera s/n, 25001 Lleida, Spain
Franco Cotana: CIRIAF, Interuniversity Research Center, University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti, 63-06125 Perugia, Italy

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 6, 1-18

Abstract: In recent years, the implementation of novel solutions aimed at improving thermal energy storage (TES) capability to both energy technologies and building-integrated systems has gained increasing attention. In particular, the application of phase change materials (PCM) is currently gathering worldwide acknowledgment. In this work, the potential of animal fat as a novel bio-based PCM having transition temperature around the ambient temperature is assessed by means of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and extensive temperature monitoring. Results from the TGA showed the differential degradation of the main components of the animal fat during the heating phase, where three different decomposition steps could be noticed. The thermal monitoring and the DSC analysis demonstrated the promising thermal performance of the material, which showed an interesting double transition range globally associated to a melting enthalpy of about 28.94 kJ·kg - 1 . The obtained results demonstrate the promising thermophysical properties of the animal fat blend, which can be considered as a low-cost, biocompatible PCM, particularly with potential application in passive building envelope applications for a wide range of temperature boundary conditions.

Keywords: animal fat; phase change material; bio-based materials; industry-waste materials; DSC; TGA; thermal monitoring; building energy efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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