Experimental Investigation of PCMs with Metal Foams for the Optimization of Thermal Energy Storage Systems

• Grant number: 24/17893-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Transport Phenomena
• Principal Investigator: Elaine Maria Cardoso
• Grantee: Jeferson Diehl de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus São João da Boa Vista. São João da Boa Vista , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/15765-1 - Study of transport phenomena applied to emerging technologies of energy conversion and storage, AP.TEM

Abstract

Electrical energy is essential for human progress, but the growing demand faces environmental challenges. Although promising, alternative and renewable sources, such as solar and wind energy, are still unstable. In this context, thermal energy storage systems (TESs) emerge as a solution, particularly those using phase change materials (PCMs), which absorb and release heat during the solid-liquid phase change. However, PCMs have low thermal conductivity and high viscosity, compromising the efficiency of TESs. Techniques to improve their properties, such as using metal foams, have shown promise in reducing melting/solidification time and increasing storage capacity. Nevertheless, there is limited experimental research on the solidification of PCMs with metal foams, and temperature and fluid dynamics characteristics are typically measured using intrusive and numerical methods. Therefore, this study will use optical techniques to jointly determine the temperature and velocity fields of PCMs, especially for metal foams. An organic PCM will be used combined with copper foam with different pore sizes (10 or 15 PPI) and 80% porosity. Considering that one of the main applications of TESs is in solar panels, different angles of the heated wall in relation to the vertical will also be tested. The results are expected to contribute to clarifying the actual role of metal foams in the heat transfer process of PCMs, particularly during solidification, using a less common characterization technique.