Phase Change Materials embedded in porous matrices for hybrid thermal energy storages: experimental results and modelling

It is well-known that the use of the latent heat absorption phenomenon associated with the melting process of a suitable Phase Change Material (PCM) can be considered an effective way to improve energy storage capabilities in many applications. This work experimentally investigates the effects of six open-cell aluminum foams and of a 3-D periodic aluminum structure during the phase change process of a paraffin wax with melting temperatures of 40°C in a hybrid water thermal storage unit. The storage is set at two different temperatures (50°C and 60°C) during the melting process, and at around 23°C during the solidification one. Moreover, in order to simulate the possible advantages of hybrid water thermal energy storages, a Trnsys Type developed to simulate the loading (melting) and unloading (solidification) processes of paraffin waxes for latent thermal energy storages is presented and validated against the data collected during experimental tests.