Thermal energy storage (TES) materials absorb transient pulses of heat, allowing for rapid storage of low-quality thermal energy for later use, and effective temperature regulation as part of a thermal management system. This paper describes recent development of salt hydrate-based TES composites at the Air Force Research Laboratory. Salt hydrates are known to be susceptible to undercooling and chemical segregation, and their bulk thermal conductivities remain too low for rapid heat transfer. Here, we discuss recent progress towards solving these challenges in the composite system lithium nitrate trihydrate/graphitic foam. This system takes advantage of both the high volumetric thermal energy storage density of lithium nitrate trihydrate and the high thermal conductivity of graphitic foams. We demonstrate a new stable nucleation agent specific to lithium nitrate trihydrate which decreases undercooling by up to ∼70% relative to previously described nucleation agents. Furthermore, we demonstrate the compatibility of lithium nitrate trihydrate and graphitic foam with the addition of a commercial nonionic silicone polyether surfactant. Finally, we show that thermal conductivity across water-graphite interfaces is optimized by tuning the surfactant concentration. These advances demonstrate a promising route to synthesizing high energy density, high thermal conductivity TES composites.
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ASME 2012 Third International Conference on Micro/Nanoscale Heat and Mass Transfer
March 3–6, 2012
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Nanotechnology Institute
ISBN:
978-0-7918-5477-8
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Towards High Energy Density, High Conductivity Thermal Energy Storage Composites Available to Purchase
Patrick J. Shamberger,
Patrick J. Shamberger
Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
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Daniel E. Forero
Daniel E. Forero
Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
University of Dayton Research Institute, Dayton, OH
Search for other works by this author on:
Patrick J. Shamberger
Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
Daniel E. Forero
Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
University of Dayton Research Institute, Dayton, OH
Paper No:
MNHMT2012-75039, pp. 545-553; 9 pages
Published Online:
July 18, 2013
Citation
Shamberger, PJ, & Forero, DE. "Towards High Energy Density, High Conductivity Thermal Energy Storage Composites." Proceedings of the ASME 2012 Third International Conference on Micro/Nanoscale Heat and Mass Transfer. ASME 2012 Third International Conference on Micro/Nanoscale Heat and Mass Transfer. Atlanta, Georgia, USA. March 3–6, 2012. pp. 545-553. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/MNHMT2012-75039
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