Multi-Scale Numerical Modelling for Predicting Thermo-Physical Properties of Phase-Change Nanocomposites for Cooling Energy Storage

One major limitation of phase-change materials (PCM) for thermal energy storage comes from their poor conductivity hindering heat transfer process and power density. Nanocomposites PCMs, where highly conductive nanofillers are dispersed into PCM matrices, have been exploited in the past decades as novel latent with enhanced conductivity. A computational model based on continuum simulations capable to link microscopic characteristics bulk macroscopic effective resulting nanocomposite is aim this work. After preliminary mean-field investigating impact nanofiller aspect ratio nanocomposite, finite element at reduced ratios performed corrected values filler, take account interface resistances between fillers matrix. Finally, actual has extrapolated by results obtained thus saving time meshing efforts. This method validated through comparison against previous literature evidence new experimental characterizations PCMs.