THE POSSIBILITY OF USING POLYMER-BASED PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS FOR THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE

Abstract

Phase change materials (PCM) are attractive energy storage technologies due to their high energy storage density and the ability to reversible absorb and release thermal energy at a nearly constant temperature. Polymers and polymer-based eutectic mixtures are promising PCMs. This study aims to investigate heat properties (melting temperature (Tm), latent heat (ΔH) and thermal conductivity(λ)) of potential PCMs based on polyethylene glycol polymer (PEG2000). We prepared following two and three components materials: PEG2000: ethylene glycol (5:6): PEG2000: PPG 400 (1:5); PEG2000: PPG400: Choline chloride (2:2:15); PEG2000: ethylene glycol (5:6); PEG2000: Glyoxal (5:2). The prepared three components material belong to deep eutectic solvents. Tm of the prepared materials are lower compared to pure PEG2000 (Tm = 57 ºC) e.g. Tm of PEG2000: PPG400: Choline chloride is 43 ºC. The determined melting enthalpies are also lower for prepared materials compared to PEG2000. This decrease is lower for eutectic mixture such as PEG2000: Choline chloride: ethylene glycol. We can conclude based on the obtained result that eutectic mixtures based on polymers are promising PCMs.