Preparation and characterization of new nano-particle mixed as thermal storage material

A new nano-particle mixed as thermal storage material (CMN) was prepared with KAl(SO4)2·12H2O (M) and Na2SO4·10H2O (N) and nano-particle carbon (C) as a thermal conductive agent for thermal conductivity enhancing. The detailed thermo-physical properties and thermal energy storage performance were studied, including thermal conductivity, phase change temperature, latent heat, supercooling degree and thermal cycling stability. The results indicated that C, KAl(SO4)2·12H2O and Na2SO4·10H2O were physically mixed. The thermal conductivity of PCM increased from 0.546 W/(m·K) to 0.910 W/(m·K) because of the addition of 1 wt%C. 1 wt% C suppressed the subcooling of PCM from 2.9 °C to 1.8 °C. The DSC revealed that the phase change temperature and latent heat of CMN were 65.68 °C and 132.2 J/g. It indicated that CMN had good thermal stability after 100 thermal cycle tests.