Performance Evaluation of Concrete Containing Fatty Acids as a Medium of Thermal Energy Storage
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 36, Issue 5
Abstract
This paper aims to study the influence of novel macro encapsulated phase change materials (PCMs) on the mechanical and thermal properties of concretes. Thermal energy storage aggregates (TESAs) were prepared using vacuum impregnation. The PCMs were a lauric-myristic acid (LA-MA) eutectic mixture and coconut oil, pure or mixed, and are impregnated in diatomite as a supporting material. Thermal energy storage concrete (TESC) was made by replacing gravel in ordinary concrete with TESAs. Thermal and mechanical properties of prepared TESC were studied using differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, compressive strength, and thermal performance analysis. The results showed that the melting temperature of coconut oil and the eutectic mixture of LA-MA were 25.2°C and 34.5°C, respectively. TESC with 80 wt.% of gravel replaced with TESA had a compressive strength of higher than 17 MPa, which indicates its usability as structural concrete. The results of thermal performance analysis also revealed that prepared TESC had the capability of storing thermal energy and can reduce energy consumption by damping temperature fluctuations caused by the outside environment.
Practical Applications
In this paper, a thermal energy storage concrete (TESC) was prepared by embedding phase change materials (PCMs) in diatomite used in TESC. Using this type of concrete in the building will reduce the energy consumption of the building and increase its thermal comfort. The produced concrete containing 80 wt.% of gravel replaced with diatomite saturated with PCM had a desirable 28-day cylindrical sample strength of 21 MPa. In the designed thermal test, the time required for this concrete to reach 40°C is almost twice that of concrete without PCM. The results show a reduction of the influence of outside temperature on the temperature inside the buildings made with this type of concrete.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge the financial support by the Research Department of Shahrekord University. The thermal tests have been performed in the Central Laboratory of Persian Gulf University, and their support in this project is acknowledged.
References
ACI (American Concrete Institute). 2011. Building code requirements for structural concrete. ACI 318-11. Farmington Hills, MI: ACI.
Berardi, U., and A. A. Gallardo. 2019. “Properties of concretes enhanced with phase change materials for building applications.” Energy Build. 199 (Sep): 402–414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2019.07.014.
Castell, A., I. Martorell, M. Medrano, G. Pérez, and L. F. Cabeza. 2010. “Experimental study of using PCM in brick constructive solutions for passive cooling.” Energy Build. 42 (4): 534–540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2009.10.022.
Cedeño, F. O., M. M. Prieto, A. Espina, and J. R. García. 2001. “Measurements of temperature and melting heat of some pure fatty acids and their binary and ternary mixtures by differential scanning calorimetry.” Thermochim. Acta 369 (1): 39–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-6031(00)00752-8.
Cellat, K., F. Tezcan, B. Beyhan, G. Kardaş, and H. Paksoy. 2017. “A comparative study on corrosion behavior of rebar in concrete with fatty acid additive as phase change material.” Constr. Build. Mater. 143 (Jul): 490–500. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.03.165.
Faraj, K., M. Khaled, J. Faraj, F. Hachem, and C. Castelain. 2020. “Phase change material thermal energy storage systems for cooling applications in buildings: A review.” Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 119 (Mar): 109579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2019.109579.
He, Y., X. Zhang, Y. Zhang, Q. Song, and X. Liao. 2016. “Utilization of lauric acid-myristic acid/expanded graphite phase change materials to improve thermal properties of cement mortar.” Energy Build. 133 (Mar): 547–558. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.10.016.
Hekimoğlu, G., M. Nas, M. Ouikhalfan, A. Sarı, Ş. Kurbetci, V. V. Tyagi, R. K. Sharma, and T. A. Saleh. 2021. “Thermal management performance and mechanical properties of a novel cementitious composite containing fly ash/lauric acid-myristic acid as form-stable phase change material.” Constr. Build. Mater. 274 (May): 122105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.122105.
Jamekhorshid, A., S. M. Sadrameli, R. Barzin, and M. M. Farid. 2017. “Composite of wood-plastic and micro-encapsulated phase change material (MEPCM) used for thermal energy storage.” Appl. Therm. Eng. 112 (May): 82–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.10.037.
Javidparvar, A. A., R. Naderi, and B. Ramezanzadeh. 2019. “Epoxy-polyamide nanocomposite coating with graphene oxide as cerium nanocontainer generating effective dual active/barrier corrosion protection.” Composites, Part B 172 (Sep): 363–375. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2019.05.055.
Jayadas, N. H., and K. P. Nair. 2006. “Coconut oil as base oil for industrial lubricants–Evaluation and modification of thermal, oxidative and low temperature properties.” Tribol. Int. 39 (9): 873–878. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2005.06.006.
Jayalath, A., R. San Nicolas, M. Sofi, R. Shanks, T. Ngo, L. Aye, and P. Mendis. 2016. “Properties of cementitious mortar and concrete containing micro-encapsulated phase change materials.” Constr. Build. Mater. 120 (Mar): 408–417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.05.116.
Jeong, S.-G., J. Jeon, J.-H. Lee, and S. Kim. 2013. “Optimal preparation of PCM/diatomite composites for enhancing thermal properties.” Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer 62 (Jul): 711–717. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2013.03.043.
Jin, W., L. Jiang, L. Chen, T. Yin, Y. Gu, M. Guo, X. Yan, and X. Ben. 2021. “Enhancement of thermal conductivity by graphene as additive in lauric-stearic acid/treated diatomite composite phase change materials for heat storage in building envelope.” Energy Build. 246 (Mar): 111087. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111087.
Khudhair, A. M., and M. Farid. 2021. “A review on energy conservation in building applications with thermal storage by latent heat using phase change materials.” In Thermal energy storage with phase change materials, 162–175. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Li, M., Z. Wu, and H. Kao. 2011. “Study on preparation and thermal properties of binary fatty acid/diatomite shape-stabilized phase change materials.” Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 95 (8): 2412–2416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2011.04.017.
Marina, A., Y. Che Man, S. Nazimah, and I. Amin. 2009. “Chemical properties of virgin coconut oil.” J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 86 (4): 301–307. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-009-1351-1.
Nazir, H., M. Batool, M. Ali, and A. M. Kannan. 2018. “Fatty acids based eutectic phase change system for thermal energy storage applications.” Appl. Therm. Eng. 142 (Mar): 466–475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2018.07.025.
Qiu, L., Y. Ouyang, Y. Feng, and X. Zhang. 2019. “Review on micro/nano phase change materials for solar thermal applications.” Renewable Energy 140 (Mar): 513–538. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2019.03.088.
Qiu, L., N. Zhu, Y. Feng, E. E. Michaelides, G. Żyła, D. Jing, X. Zhang, P. M. Norris, C. N. Markides, and O. Mahian. 2020. “A review of recent advances in thermophysical properties at the nanoscale: From solid state to colloids.” Phys. Rep. 843 (Feb): 1–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physrep.2019.12.001.
Safira, L., N. Putra, T. Trisnadewi, E. Kusrini, and T. M. I. Mahlia. 2020. “Thermal properties of sonicated graphene in coconut oil as a phase change material for energy storage in building applications.” Int. J. Low-Carbon Technol. 15 (4): 629–636. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijlct/ctaa018.
Sarı, A. 2003. “Thermal reliability test of some fatty acids as PCMs used for solar thermal latent heat storage applications.” Energy Convers. Manage. 44 (14): 2277–2287. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0196-8904(02)00251-0.
Sarı, A., and A. Biçer. 2012. “Thermal energy storage properties and thermal reliability of some fatty acid esters/building material composites as novel form-stable PCMs.” Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 101 (Mar): 114–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2012.02.026.
Sarı, A., and K. Kaygusuz. 2003. “Some fatty acids used for latent heat storage: Thermal stability and corrosion of metals with respect to thermal cycling.” Renewable Energy 28 (6): 939–948. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0960-1481(02)00110-6.
Sarı, A., H. Sarı, and A. Önal. 2004. “Thermal properties and thermal reliability of eutectic mixtures of some fatty acids as latent heat storage materials.” Energy Convers. Manage. 45 (3): 365–376. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0196-8904(03)00154-7.
Sharma, A., V. V. Tyagi, C. R. Chen, and D. Buddhi. 2009. “Review on thermal energy storage with phase change materials and applications.” Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 13 (2): 318–345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2007.10.005.
Shi, J., and M. Li. 2021. “Lightweight mortar with paraffin/expanded vermiculite-diatomite composite phase change materials: Development, characterization and year-round thermoregulation performance.” Sol. Energy 220 (Apr): 331–342. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2021.03.053.
Song, M., F. Niu, N. Mao, Y. Hu, and S. Deng. 2018. “Review on building energy performance improvement using phase change materials.” Energy Build. 158: 776–793. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.10.066.
Tang, Y., D. Su, X. Huang, G. Alva, L. Liu, and G. Fang. 2016. “Synthesis and thermal properties of the MA/HDPE composites with nano-additives as form-stable PCM with improved thermal conductivity.” Appl. Energy 180 (Apr): 116–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.07.106.
Wang, R., M. Ren, X. Gao, and L. Qin. 2018. “Preparation and properties of fatty acids based thermal energy storage aggregate concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 165 (Mar): 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.01.034.
Wen, R., X. Zhang, Z. Huang, M. Fang, Y. Liu, X. Wu, X. Min, W. Gao, and S. Huang. 2018. “Preparation and thermal properties of fatty acid/diatomite form-stable composite phase change material for thermal energy storage.” Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 178 (May): 273–279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2018.01.032.
Yanping, Y., T. Wenquan, C. Xiaoling, and B. Li. 2011. “Theoretic prediction of melting temperature and latent heat for a fatty acid eutectic mixture.” J. Chem. Eng. Data 56 (6): 2889–2891. https://doi.org/10.1021/je200057j.
Zhang, D., Z. Li, J. Zhou, and K. Wu. 2004. “Development of thermal energy storage concrete.” Cem. Concr. Res. 34 (6): 927–934. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2003.10.022.
Zhang, J.-J., J.-L. Zhang, S.-M. He, K.-Z. Wu, and X.-D. Liu. 2001. “Thermal studies on the solid–liquid phase transition in binary systems of fatty acids.” Thermochim. Acta 369 (1): 157–160. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-6031(00)00766-8.
Zhang, Y., J. Li, X. Cheng, W. Bian, G. Chen, Y. Li, W. Li, and Z. Zheng. 2016. “Efficient removal of crystal violet by diatomite and carbon in the fixed bed column: Influence of different glucose/diatomite.” RSC Adv. 6 (56): 51337–51346. https://doi.org/10.1039/C6RA07862A.
Zhang, Z., G. Shi, S. Wang, X. Fang, and X. Liu. 2013. “Thermal energy storage cement mortar containing n-octadecane/expanded graphite composite phase change material.” Renewable Energy 50 (Feb): 670–675. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2012.08.024.
Zhu, N., S. Li, P. Hu, S. Wei, R. Deng, and F. Lei. 2018. “A review on applications of shape-stabilized phase change materials embedded in building enclosure in recent ten years.” Sustainable Cities Soc. 43 (Nov): 251–264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2018.08.028.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 36 • Issue 5 • May 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 23, 2022
Accepted: Oct 23, 2023
Published online: Feb 22, 2024
Published in print: May 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Jul 22, 2024
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.