Chapter 12
Direct Photo-Thermal Energy Storage
Using Nanoparticles Laden Phase
Change Materials
Deepak Moudgil and Vikrant Khullar
Abstract In the present work, we propose thermal energy storage by direct photothermal energy conversion (referred to as optical charging) using nanoparticles laden
phase change materials (PCMs). In the conventional thermal storage systems, the
absorbed solar energy is indirectly transferred to the PCM (primarily through conduction and convection heat transfer mechanisms) and is subsequently stored in
the form of latent heat of the PCM (referred to as thermal charging). Opposed to
the conventional thermal storage strategies; optical charging involves direct interaction of the sunlight with the phase change material (radiation being the predominant
heat transfer mechanism). Broad absorption-based nanoparticles (amorphous carbon)
have been seeded into the pristine phase change material (paraffin wax) to enhance
photo-thermal conversion efficiency. Particularly, we investigate the effect of adding
nanoparticles to conventional PCMs during optical charging process. To understand
the role of nanoparticles; samples of pristine paraffin wax and nano-PCMs [different
concentrations of nanoparticles (0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4%, wt%) dispersed in the pristine
paraffin wax] have been optically heated. Furthermore, optical charging has been
compared with the conventional thermal charging process. As per the experimental
observations, the optical charging scheme significantly improves the thermal charging rate (by more than 157%) at optimum nanoparticle concentration (0.2%, in the
present study) as compared to conventional thermal charging.
Keywords Optical charging · Phase change material (PCM) · Nanoparticles
D. Moudgil · V. Khullar (B)
Mechanical Engineering Department, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology Patiala,
Patiala, Punjab 147004, India
e-mail: vikrant.khullar@thapar.edu
D. Moudgil
e-mail: dmoudgil_me17@thapar.edu
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
H. Tyagi et al. (eds.), Solar Energy, Energy, Environment,
and Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-0675-8_12
235
Direct Photo-Thermal Energy Storage
Using Nanoparticles Laden Phase
Change Materials
Deepak Moudgil and Vikrant Khullar
Abstract In the present work, we propose thermal energy storage by direct photothermal energy conversion (referred to as optical charging) using nanoparticles laden
phase change materials (PCMs). In the conventional thermal storage systems, the
absorbed solar energy is indirectly transferred to the PCM (primarily through conduction and convection heat transfer mechanisms) and is subsequently stored in
the form of latent heat of the PCM (referred to as thermal charging). Opposed to
the conventional thermal storage strategies; optical charging involves direct interaction of the sunlight with the phase change material (radiation being the predominant
heat transfer mechanism). Broad absorption-based nanoparticles (amorphous carbon)
have been seeded into the pristine phase change material (paraffin wax) to enhance
photo-thermal conversion efficiency. Particularly, we investigate the effect of adding
nanoparticles to conventional PCMs during optical charging process. To understand
the role of nanoparticles; samples of pristine paraffin wax and nano-PCMs [different
concentrations of nanoparticles (0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4%, wt%) dispersed in the pristine
paraffin wax] have been optically heated. Furthermore, optical charging has been
compared with the conventional thermal charging process. As per the experimental
observations, the optical charging scheme significantly improves the thermal charging rate (by more than 157%) at optimum nanoparticle concentration (0.2%, in the
present study) as compared to conventional thermal charging.
Keywords Optical charging · Phase change material (PCM) · Nanoparticles
D. Moudgil · V. Khullar (B)
Mechanical Engineering Department, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology Patiala,
Patiala, Punjab 147004, India
e-mail: vikrant.khullar@thapar.edu
D. Moudgil
e-mail: dmoudgil_me17@thapar.edu
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
H. Tyagi et al. (eds.), Solar Energy, Energy, Environment,
and Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-0675-8_12
235