Determination of Thermal Properties of Eutectic Phase change materials (EPCM) using the T-history method

Eutectic Phase change material (EPCM) absorbs or releases heat energy during phase transition at a uniform or narrow range of temperature. A simple and easy T-history method (THM) was used to determine the melting and crystallization temperatures and charging and discharging durations of the EPCM. The THM was utilized to evaluate the thermo-physical properties of different salt hydrates, paraffin, and non-paraffin compounds. The Glauber salt (GS) was selected as the main compound; however, other salts were added to make it eutectic. Three samples with different chemical compositions (wt.%) were prepared and tested to find their melting and crystallization temperatures and charging and discharging times using the T-history method. The charging times and melting temperatures of the samples IA, IIA, and IIIA were 45, 34, and 26 minutes and 23.4, 14.3, and 8.2 °C, respectively. The discharging times and freezing temperatures of the samples IA, IIA, and IIIA were 13, 14, and 23 minutes and 18.7, 16.2, and 8.6 °C, respectively. The EPCM was selected of its high heat capacity and thermal conductivity, eco-friendliness, low cost, high charging, and discharging duration, and easy operation are developed and optimized depending on the applications.