Thermal performance investigation of microencapsulated phase change material enhanced with graphene nanoplatelets in double-glazing applications

Abstract

Effective heat energy storage is crucial for thermal energy management. The utilization of latent heat storage methods is widely prevalent across various engineering applications for enhancing energy efficiency. In this study, the energy storage performances of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) achieved by incorporating graphene nanoplatelets into a microencapsulated PCM were experimentally analyzed for double-glazing applications. Changes in thermal energy storage and heat transfer performance by incorporating graphene nanoplatelets into the PCM at two different mass ratios (1 % and 0.1 %) were investigated. The results obtained from light intensity and temperature measurements, as well as thermal camera imaging, were evaluated together. The results support the contribution of graphene nanoplatelets addition to microencapsulated PCMs in enhancing thermal performance during both heating and cooling periods. Among the investigated cases, the highest mass ratio of 1 % graphene nanoplatelets addition led to a major 10 degrees C increase in peak temperature compared to the reference condition. In contrast, this increase in peak temperature was accompanied by a mere 14 % decrease in average light levels. This research underlines the potential of graphene-enhanced microencapsulated PCMs in optimizing thermal management systems for double-glazing applications, offering a promising pathway towards enhancing energy efficiency and thermal comfort in building environments.