Life cycle inventory and performance analysis of phase change materials for thermal energy storages
Date
2021-05-29Author
Madeswaran, Naveenkumar
Desai, Fenil J.
Asmatulu, Eylem
Metadata
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Madeswaran, N., Desai, F.J. & Asmatulu, E. Life cycle inventory and performance analysis of phase change materials for thermal energy storages. emergent mater. (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42247-021-00235-0
Abstract
Solar energy is a renewable energy that requires a storage medium for efective usage. Phase change materials (PCMs) successfully store thermal energy from solar energy. The material-level life cycle assessment (LCA) plays an important role in
studying the ecological impact of PCMs. The life cycle inventory (LCI) analysis provides information regarding the material
and energy requirements and economy of PCMs. This work presents an estimated LCA and LCI values in order to reveal all
the mentioned efects of PCMs on storing thermal energy generated by concentrated solar thermal power plants. The goal
of this study was to provide guidance for PCM system design based on a matrix that considers the performance, costs, and
environmental impact. The ecoinvent global database (version 3) was used for the life cycle inventory analysis. For this study,
PCMs were selected based on physical and chemical properties as well as state and melting temperatures (300–500 °C) that
are suitable for charging and discharging a large amount of thermal energy. The performance of PCMs was determined based
on their thermal efusivity. Results indicate that compared to other PCMs, sodium nitrate (100%) used less heat energy, but
when comparing the amount of electricity usage for PCM compounds, potassium nitrate (65.31%)+potassium carbonate
(34.69%) used less electricity. From the emissions data for PCMs from raw materials to factory gate (cradle-to-gate), Na2CO3
produced the lowest emissions to air, although harmful emissions to water. The performance of PCM mixtures was better,
with thermal conductivity almost 3.5 times higher than that of individual PCMs. However, the cost of PCM mixtures was
three times higher than that of individual PCMs. This comprehensive compilation of PCM data can be very helpful in the
selection of a suitable PCM while ofering a fne balance between cost and performance.
Description
© This is a U.S. government work and not under copyright protection in the U.S.; foreign copyright protection may apply 2021