Preparation and Characterization of Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials for Solar Heat Collection

Hongbing Chen, Rui Zhao, Congcong Wang, Lianyuan Feng, Shuqian Li and Yutong Gong
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Hongbing Chen: School of Environment and Energy Engineering, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 102616, China
Rui Zhao: State Key Laboratory of Building Safety and Environment, China Academy of Building Research, Beijing 100013, China
Congcong Wang: School of Environment and Energy Engineering, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 102616, China
Lianyuan Feng: School of Civil Engineering, Hebei University of Water Resources and Electric Engineering, Cangzhou 061001, China
Shuqian Li: School of Civil Engineering, Hebei University of Water Resources and Electric Engineering, Cangzhou 061001, China
Yutong Gong: School of Environment and Energy Engineering, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 102616, China

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 15, 1-17

Abstract: In this paper, a new type of microencapsulated phase change materials (MPCMs) with docosane as the core and titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) as the shell was prepared by in situ polymerization. Its phase transition temperature was approximately 40 °C, and it can be used as a phase change material (PCM) in a low-temperature solar heat collection system. The properties of the new material were examined including the microstructure, the chemical elements on the surface of the microcapsules, and thermal conductivity. In addition, to obtain the optimized formula of the microcapsules, single-factor analysis on the emulsifier type, its mass fraction, ultrasonic oscillation time, pH, and core–shell ratio were performed. The results showed that the MPCMs prepared in this paper had a particle size of 2–5 μm and were spherical. Its surface was uniform and smooth without cracks, and the TiO 2 was well dispersed around the docosane, completely coating the docosane without impurities. The MPCMs had good performance in terms of thermal properties and heat storage when using 0.40% SDS as an emulsifier, 10 min ultrasonic, a 3.5 pH value, and a 1:1 core–shell ratio. However, the stirring method, time, and experimental reaction temperature also affected the properties of the material, which was not studied in this experiment. We will continue to study these factors in the future.

Keywords: microencapsulated phase change material; core–shell ratio; nanoparticles; thermal property (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: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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