Prediction of Bulk Density of Microencapsuated Phase Change Material Slurry

The use of phase change material (PCM) particles suspended in a liquid-phase carrying fluid can provide additional thermal capacity from the latent heat associated with the solid-liquid phase changing process. It has the advantages of capable flowing and simultaneously a high effective heat capacity in a certain temperature range. However, the bulk thermophysical properties are very specific and may vary with many parameters such as particle geometry, chemical component, fabrication technology and temperature. This paper proposed a theoretical model for predicting the bulk density of microencapsulated PCM slurry in solid-liquid phase changing process basing on a thermodynamic analysis of free energy and Gibbs-Thomson theory. The effects of particle size and distribution, mass concentration and surface tension of PCM on the bulk slurry density were investigated.