Tunable endothermic plateau for enhancing thermal energy storage obtained using binary metal alloy particles

Thermal energy storage is crucial for various industrial systems. Enhancements in energy storage induced by latent heat have been demonstrated by using phase-change materials. However, these enhancements occur only at the melting points of the materials. In this study, we demonstrated the controllability of latent heat absorption/release in a certain temperature range. A wide endothermic plateau from 370 to 407 degrees C for the Hitec salt was obtained by releasing the latent heat of alloy particles embedded in the salt. The alloy particle-doped salt was applied to a Stirling engine to demonstrate its effectiveness in enhancing the energy and power outputs of the engine. Compared to pure salt, the alloy particle-doped salt can enhance the engine's energy output by 21%. With the advantages of scalable synthesis and superior thermal properties, the alloy particles have potential applications in energy storage enhancement in various thermal energy systems. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd.