Latent Heat of Fusion and Melting Temperature of Molten Salt Based Carbon Nanotube Suspensions Used as Phase Change Materials

Thermal Energy Storage (TES) can improve the efficient and economical use of available resources associated with renewable energies. The choice of Phase Change Materials (PCM) for TES applications is particularly attractive, since PCMs provide high energy storage densities, low costs, and allow energy storage at constant temperatures during the melting/solidification process. However, most commonly used PCMs have low thermal conductivity values, typically less than 1 W/mK. This leads to insufficient heat exchange rates in many applications, where power is as important as the amount of energy stored. Previous studies have shown that adding nanoparticles to molten salts can enhance the thermal conductivity and heat capacity, thus improving performance in TES systems. This study analyzes how adding nanoparticles to ionic liquids/solids affects the latent heat of fusion and melting temperature, critical characteristics of many thermal management systems. An important aspect of nanoparticle suspension preparation is the synthesis method, both from the point of view of scalability and effect on thermophysical properties. Several nanoparticle suspensions are synthesized with carbon nanotubes (CNT) and salt or ionic liquid base materials, using different synthesis methods and sonication times. The melting point and latent heat of fusion are measured for the base materials and nanoparticle suspensions using a Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC). The change in latent heat and melting temperature of the nanofluid with respect to the base fluid is shown to be present but not substantial. Possible explanations for the modification of thermal properties with respect to the base fluid are discussed.