Carbonate-salt-based composite materials for medium- and high-temperature thermal energy storage--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

Ge, Z., Ye, F., Cao, H., Leng, G., Qin, Y., & Ding, Y. (2014). Carbonate-salt-based composite materials for medium- and high-temperature thermal energy storage. Particuology, 15, 77–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2013.09.002

Carbonate-salt-based composite materials for medium- and high-temperature thermal energy storage

Zhiwei Ge ^{a c}, Feng Ye ^a, Hui Cao ^b, Guanghui Leng ^a, Yue Qin ^d, Yulong Ding ^{a b e *}

a State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Complex Systems, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
b Institute of Particle Science & Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
c University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
d School of Engineering and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
e Centre for Cryogenic Energy Storage, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK

10.1016/j.partic.2013.09.002

Volume 15, August 2014, Pages 77-81

Received 12 June 2013, Revised 22 August 2013, Accepted 3 September 2013, Available online 5 November 2013.

E-mail: ylding@mail.ipe.ac.cn; y.ding@leeds.ac.uk

Highlights

• Salt based composite materials were investigated for medium and high temperature thermal energy storage.

• The composites consisted of LiNaCO₃ (PCM), MgO (ceramic) and carbon (thermal conduction enhancer).

• Wettability of the PCM with the ceramic and that with the carbon explained the structural formation mechanisms.

• The use of ceramic material densifies the composite structure, whereas the use of carbon swells the structure.

• A balance between densification and swelling must be struck for obtaining good thermal and mechanical properties.

Abstract

This paper discusses composite materials based on inorganic salts for medium- and high-temperature thermal energy storage application. The composites consist of a phase change material (PCM), a ceramic material, and a high thermal conductivity material. The ceramic material forms a microstructural skeleton for encapsulation of the PCM and structural stability of the composites; the high thermal conductivity material enhances the overall thermal conductivity of the composites. Using a eutectic salt of lithium and sodium carbonates as the PCM, magnesium oxide as the ceramic skeleton, and either graphite flakes or carbon nanotubes as the thermal conductivity enhancer, we produced composites with good physical and chemical stability and high thermal conductivity. We found that the wettability of the molten salt on the ceramic and carbon materials significantly affects the microstructure of the composites.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Thermal energy storage; Composite materials; Microstructure; Thermal conductivity; Phase change material

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