Nanoparticle loading effect on the performance of the paraffin thermal energy storage material for building applications

In this paper, the melting properties such as the thermal energy storage capacity and phase-change temperatures of paraffin are investigated. The paraffin is also modified as nano-PCM by dispersing small fractions (0.2% and 0.5% mass fractions) of highly conductive nanoparticles. The material used in this study has a melting temperature of 22 degrees C, making it suitable for domestic building applications. Additionally, the thermal conductivity and heating rate of the paraffin and paraffin with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are studied experimentally. The results show that the paraffin with 0.2% and 0.5% mass fractions of MWCNTs could increase the thermal conductivity by 35% and 49% with respect to pure paraffin. The maximum thermal conductivity of 0.203 W m(-1) K-1 is observed for the paraffin with 0.5% mass fraction of MWCNTs. Additionally, the heat of fusion slightly reduced by increasing the mass fraction of MWCNTs. The result implies that the materials used in this study could be used for building applications.