Thermal Performance Analysis of Composite Phase Change Material of Myristic Acid-Expanded Graphite in Spherical Thermal Energy Storage Unit

Ji Li, Weiqing Wang (), Yimin Deng, Long Gao, Junchao Bai, Lei Xu, Jun Chen and Zhi Yuan
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Ji Li: Engineering Research Center of Renewable Energy Power Generation and Grid-Connected Control, Ministry of Education, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
Weiqing Wang: Engineering Research Center of Renewable Energy Power Generation and Grid-Connected Control, Ministry of Education, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
Yimin Deng: School of Energy and Power Engineering, Northeast Electric Power University, Jilin 132012, China
Long Gao: School of Energy and Power Engineering, Northeast Electric Power University, Jilin 132012, China
Junchao Bai: School of Energy and Power Engineering, Northeast Electric Power University, Jilin 132012, China
Lei Xu: Electric Power Research Institute of State Grid Xinjiang Electric Power Co., Ltd., Urumqi 830011, China
Jun Chen: Electric Power Research Institute of State Grid Xinjiang Electric Power Co., Ltd., Urumqi 830011, China
Zhi Yuan: Engineering Research Center of Renewable Energy Power Generation and Grid-Connected Control, Ministry of Education, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 11, 1-24

Abstract: In order to improve energy storage efficiency and promote the early achievement of global carbon neutrality goals, this paper proposes a spherical thermal storage unit filled with a composite phase change material (CPCM) comprising myristic acid (MA) and expanded graphite (EG). The effects of EG content and Stefan number (Ste) on the melting performance were investigated through a combination of experiments and numerical simulations. The results show that an increase in EG content (especially for ≥4 wt.% EG) leads to a temperature profile that assumes a concentric ring shape, while the melting rate increases with an increase in both the EG mass fraction and the Ste number. Compared to pure MA, the time required to complete melting was reduced by 82.2%, 85.6%, and 88.0% at EG contents of 4 wt.%, 5 wt.%, and 6 wt.%, respectively. Notably, the Ste value has a greater effect on melting when the EG content is ≤3 wt.%. The optimal EG content in the spherical cell was determined to be 4 wt.%, and a dimensionless analysis established a general correlation between the liquid mass fraction and the Fo, Ste, and Gr numbers.

Keywords: composite phase change material; spherical thermal storage unit; melting characteristics; dimensionless analysis (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: 2023
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