THERMOPHYSICAL AND THERMAL CHARGING ENHANCEMENT OF PEG/Al₂O₃ COMPOSITES FOR THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE (TES)
DOI:
10.29303/ipr.v9i1.610Downloads
Abstract
The transition to renewable energy continues to face challenges in balancing supply and demand. Thermal Energy Storage (TES) based on Phase Change Materials (PCM) offers a potential solution, with polyethylene glycol (PEG) providing high storage capacity but low thermal conductivity. This study focuses on enhancing the performance of PEG 6000 by incorporating aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃, 8 and 12 wt.%) and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) as a surfactant. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) confirmed that no new phases were formed, while Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) recorded an increase in latent heat up to 224.6 J/g for PEG/Al₂O₃ 12%. Thermal conductivity improved by more than 33.3%, and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) verified enhanced thermal stability. Charging–discharging tests further demonstrated an extended average charging time with slight fluctuations during discharging. These findings highlight the promising potential of PEG/Al₂O₃ composites for TES applications in renewable energy systems.
Keywords:
PEG Phase Change Materials Thermal Energy Storage Al2O3 ChargingReferences
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