An Investigation Into the Penetration of Phase Change Material in Carbon Foam for Transient Thermal Management

Abstract

Phase Change Materials (PCMs) are used for thermal management and are ideal for cyclic operations due to their high capacity to store heat. Most PCMs do not exhibit sufficient conductivity to be effective at larger sizes. Enhancing conductivity can be done in a number of ways including carbon foam. It is not widely known how well PCMs penetrate inside the carbon foam structure. Initial research suggests that the carbon foam-PCM matrix acts more as a conductor than a thermal storage device. Through the use microscopy, we will examine how the well the PCM penetrates into the carbon foam. We will also use experimental data comparing carbon foam enhanced modules to pure PCM modules. A volume displacement test will also be used to determine the quantity of PCM that enters into the carbon foam structure. This knowledge will allow better design of enhanced PCM modules and will determine if carbon foam is indeed a viable conduction enhancer for PCM thermal management.

Energy storage and solidification of paraffin phase change material embedded with graphite nanofibers

“…Sanusi and Fleischer [19] found that it is difficult to fully penetrate PCM into all pores of graphite foam. This finding supports the theory of Py et al [20] in which PCM impregnation percentage is a function of average pore radius, surface tension of the PCM in its liquid phase and viscosity of the PCM in its liquid phase.…”

Thermal conductivity improvement of composite carbon foams based on tannin-based disordered carbon matrix and graphite fillers

“…For that purpose, carbon foams with different porosities and different thermal conductivities were tested as porous matrices while paraffin wax was used as the PCM filling the pores. Sanusi et al [27] investigated the penetration of phase-change materials in carbon foam for transient thermal management. Wu and Xing [28] developed a mathematical model based on the energy conservation equation to predict the thermal behaviour and the performances of a latent-heat storage unit, using graphite foam filled with PCM in an electronic cooling system for power applications.…”