STUDYING THE THERMAL BEHAVIOUR OF CONCRETE STRUCTURE USING NANOENCAPSULATED PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS

Abstract

Concrete has an excellent intrinsic behaviour when exposed to fire, but a proper thermally enhanced structure design is needed. In recent years, a lot of research is carried out with the addition of nano materials in concrete structure to improve the physical properties and thermal properties. Thermal energy storage (TES) systems using phase change material (PCM) have been recognized as one of the most advanced energy technologies in enhancing the energy efficiency and sustainability of buildings. Nano encapsulation is the method of encapsulating phase change material with shell material such as melamine-formaldehyde or PMMA by using in-situ polymerization technique. Thermal conductivity of shell material found to have a significant influence on the heat exchange between the PCM and heat transfer fluid (HTF). Nano encapsulated material will be characterized using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and the thermal stability of the material will be analysed using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA). This paper also reviews the solidification and melting characteristics of the PCM and the effect of various encapsulation parameters on the phase change behaviour.