Experimental Study on the Effect of Phase Change Material Melting Point on TG/PCM Thermal Control Properties

Abstract

Three composite phase change materials (PCM) with peak melting points of 42°C, 50°C and 58°C were prepared using different mass fractions of stearic acid (SA) and lauric acid (LA). A thermal control model structure of thermoelectric generation/PCM (TG/PCM) was designed using PCM, and analyzed for its internal thermal conversion, transmission and storage mechanisms. In addition, TG/PCM experimental prototypes with PCM melting points at 42°C, 50°C and 58°C were designed and tested for their temperature control properties and output power. The results showed that under PCM melting points of 42°C, 50°C and 58°C, temperature difference between the cold and hot end of the TG/PCM prototype thermoelectric battery was maintained above 8°C for 70 minutes, 45 minutes and 27 minutes, respectively. The total energy of system output power above 6mW was 73.9J, 52.4J and 18.9J.