Experimental investigation of a latent heat thermal energy storage unit encapsulated with molten salt/metal foam composite seeded with nanoparticles

• Nano-salt and nano-salt/metal foam composite were synthesized. Al 2 O 3 nanopowder induced slight shift of phase change temperatures salt. Experimental performance tests PCMs conducted in a pilot test rig. Nano-salt/copper enhanced volumetric mean powers during heat storage. Molten salt has been widely used latent thermal energy storage (LHTES) system, which can be incorporated into hybrid photovoltaic/thermal solar system to accommodate the built environment. Solar (60 wt.% NaNO 40 KNO ) was employed as materials (PCMs) this study, both aluminum oxide (Al metal improve properties pure The synthesis salt/metal composites seeded with performed two-step impregnation methods, characterized morphologically thermally. Then salt, salt/2 salt/copper encapsulated rig, respectively, where heater 380.0 W located center LHTES unit. charging discharging processes unit extensively, whereas heating controlled at 240 °C, 260 °C 280 respectively. Temperature evolutions radial, angular axial positions recorded, time-durations obtained calculated subsequently. results show that physical bonding between nitrate molecule formed from morphological pictures together XRD FTIR curves. Slight changes are found melting/freezing those specific heats salt/Al slightly increase addition nanopowder. time-duration process for temperature reduced by about 74.0%, compared indicating transfer characteristics significantly. Consequently, distinctly enhanced, e.g., power reach 110.76 kW/m , 31.94 However, additive little effect on retrieval because domination natural air cooling.