The investigation of heat storage efficiency of salt gradient solar pond with and without phase changing materials

Abstract

AbstractIn this work, the effect of with and without phase change materials for long‐term heat storage of a salt gradient solar pond was investigated both experimentally and numerically. Some phase change materials, whose thermal values are close to the operating temperature of the solar pond were selected and examined from fatty acids (camphene, decanoic acid, and palmitic acids) and paraffin derivatives (paraffin wax, C20‐C33, and C16‐C28). A series of experimental studies were then performed with phase change temperature, latent heat and thermal stability, a differential scanning calorimetry, and a thermogravimetric analyzer for sheath, decanoic acid, and palmitic acid. The temperature and enthalpy curve of each phase change material was calculated by months and compared to the solar pond and the longest‐term heat storage was determined. Study shows that the maximum efficiency of the solar pond can be achieved with 24.58% Camphene in November and 22.57% Paraffin C20‐C33 in December. Thus, the camphene shows the best longest‐term heat storage performance thanks to its high melting temperature and density and latent fusion heat. It is one of the best suitable options to improve the heat storage performance of solar ponds.