An experimental investigation into the melting of phase change material using Fe3O4magnetic nanoparticles under magnetic field

The low thermal conductivity of phase change materials has resulted in prolonged melting and freezing processes (charge and discharge) in these materials. This problem has limited the application of these materials in the field of thermal energy storage. In the present study, the effects of adding Fe(3)O(4)magnetic nanoparticles at various concentrations as well as applying the magnetic field on the melting process of paraffin as phase change material have been experimentally studied. Thereupon, a cubic chamber in which the left wall applied a constant heat flux was used. At the optimum concentration of nanoparticles (1 mass%), the constant magnetic field with the intensities of 0.01 T and 0.02 T was applied and compared with the case of without field. It was inferred that using Fe(3)O(4)magnetic nanoparticles, due to the increment of thermal conductivity, leads to a decrease in the temperature gradient in the horizontal direction and thus a decrease in melting time. Moreover, applying the magnetic field, due to the formation of high conductive clusters of nanoparticles, reduced the melting time and improved the heat transfer in paraffin. By using an optimum concentration of nanoparticles (1 mass%), in the absence and presence of the magnetic field, melting time is reduced by 8% and 12%, approximately.

Automated summary

Adding Fe(3)O(4) magnetic nanoparticles can increase the thermal conductivity of paraffin, leading to a reduction in melting time, while applying a magnetic field can further decrease melting time and improve heat transfer efficiency in the presence of the nanoparticles. By using an optimum concentration of nanoparticles (1 mass%), melting time is reduced by approximately 8% and 12% in the absence and presence of the magnetic field, respectively.