Dynamic Rates of Pressure-tunable Thermal Energy Storage Materials and Components

Abstract

We propose to construct a prototype tunable thermal energy storage module, based on barocaloric effect phase change materials (PCMs), which increase their transformation temperature in response to applied pressure. The overarching objectives of this proposal are:1) to validate the feasibility of a tunable thermal energy storage reservoir, and 2) to provide experimentally grounded data to develop control schemes and assess system-level impact. The first portion of the task will focus primarily on developing the prototype tunable TES module, including resolving questions of the most effective pressurizing media, and approaches to effectively charge anddischarge heat from the pressurized volume. This apparatus will be used to directly compare performance indicators of different candidate PCMs including i) an organic and ii) an inorganic solid-solid plastic crystalline material, and iii) a pressure-sensitive solid-liquid PCM. For these model systems, we will identify pressure-dependent kinetic effects including impact on both isobaric heating/cooling, as well as quasi-isothermal compression/ decompression experiments. The anticipated outcome of these tasks is experimental data that can inform control-oriented modeling and algorithms, as well as scaling relationships for pressure-tunable thermal energy storage systems which can be used to evaluate its utility at the system level.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Mar 12, 2025
Source ID
N000142512190

Entities

People

  • Patrick Shamberger

Organizations

  • Office of Naval Research
  • Texas Engineering Experiment Station
  • United States Navy

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Thermal Physics or Thermal Science.