(698a) Characteristics of Phase Changing Material Nanoemulsions
AIChE Annual Meeting
2020
2020 Virtual AIChE Annual Meeting
Transport and Energy Processes
Thermal Energy Storage
Thursday, November 19, 2020 - 8:00am to 8:15am
This study aims to analyze the thermal performance and molecular structures of these PCM nanoemulsions through using various surfactants, thermal cycling, and the effect of aging for a size distribution ranging from 100 to 400 nm acquired by Dynamics Light Scattering (Malvern Zetasizer ZS90). Through rheological properties and molecular structures by NMR spectroscopy on these PCM nanoemulsions we may see how these nanoemulsions evolve and how this can create differences in the heat transfer coefficients obtained in forced convection through a heated circular tube. Octadecane is used as the PCM in the dispersed phase, with the utilization of different surfactants: stearic acid and the Tween & Span families, within the continuous phase, water. The preliminary data acquired of octadecane at a volume fraction of 30% with Span 60 and Tween 60 emulsifiers (3 wt%) showed shear thinning effects with the presence of minute yield stresses observed at all temperatures (10-35oC) indicating a viscoelastic region; evident by the exponentially decreasing slope of the viscosity profile with an increase in shear rate (0.01-1000 S-1). The temperature dependency is undoubtedly visible as the viscosity decreases with increase temperature from measurements performed on 50mm parallel plate geometry with a peltier heating plate for the higher volume fractions of oil (octadecane), as well as through a cup-and-bob geometry utilizing the ARES G2 Tensiometer (TA instruments). Solution-state 1H and 13C NMR measurements reveal molecular-level information on the local environments, compositions, and dynamics of the oil and surfactant species, which significantly depend on the thermodynamic state, age, and size distribution of the dispersed phase. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (TGA Q1500) measurements show the PCM nanoemulsion melting and freezing temperatures and how they change with thermal cycling and aging. A test section consisting of a 304 stainless steel tube heated uniformly and thermocouples installed at the inlet, outlet, and several on the tube wall to measure the temperature along the tube, the heat transfer coefficient can be acquired. This can indicate the possibility of using the PCM nanoemulsions as a secondary refrigerant for thermal energy storage and transport.