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This paper presents a study on the characterization of density as a function of temperature for phase change materials (PCMs). More specifically, in this study we analyze organic alkane PCMs, often called paraffins. PCMs are materials that have the ability to absorb a substantial amount of heat during phase transition from solid to liquid, and therefore prove to be useful in thermal energy storage. The density of paraffin wax PCMs is largely dependent on temperature, and during the phase change process, the density decreases dramatically as the PCM transitions from solid to liquid. Consequently, the PCM experiences dramatic volumetric expansion during this transition. Besides the thermal energy storage uses of PCMs, this volumetric expansion that they exhibit is also used in thermal actuator applications, often referred to as wax motors. While density of PCMs does affect their thermal and mechanical performance, the property is not well-characterized within the literature. In this paper, we examine ten paraffin wax PCMs with varying meltingtemperatures and characterize their densities as a function of temperature. This characterization was done usinga piston and cylinder dilatometer test setup within a temperature-controlled thermal chamber that we designedand validated to the well-characterized density properties of water. The density and temperature relationships werefurther analyzed using piecewise linear regression analysis to develop mathematical models of density as it relates totemperature, which will be useful to those wishing to analyze designs in which PCMs are used, such as in PCM-filled heat sinks.
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Sapphire dilatometer cell for measuring the thermal expansion of solids
Capacitive-based dilatometry is used to determine the thermal expansion of solid specimens over a broad temperature range and for the study of structural and thermodynamic phase transitions. It can detect length changes of 0.1 Å or better. Dilatometer cells have been constructed of metals, such as copper or silver, and non-metals, such as silicon and fused silica. Sapphire is a good candidate for the construction of a dilatometer cell. It has excellent thermal conductivity, a well-behaved thermal expansion of moderate magnitude, especially below ∼60 K, and is readily available. The design, fabrication, and testing of a sapphire dilatometer cell are described herein.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1950282
- PAR ID:
- 10395157
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Review of Scientific Instruments
- Volume:
- 93
- Issue:
- 6
- ISSN:
- 0034-6748
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 063903
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0091377
