Reverse latent heat power generation properties of PCM/nanoparticles/metal foam at night

Nanoparticles and metal foam are doped with the phase change materials (PCMs) to improve the utilization efficiency of solar energy during the day. In order to investigate the latent heat power generation properties of this hybrid PCM at night, A photothermal conversion experimental platform was built in this paper, the effects of metal foam pore density (PPI=0, 5, 10, 15) and nanoparticle concentrations (& omega; = 0%, 0.5%, 0.8%, 1.0%) on the reverse temperature difference properties were investigated. Results indicates that PPI= 15 metal foam and & omega; = 1.0% nanoparticles can reduce the internal temperature of hybrid PCM by 35.92% and 20.93% respectively compared with pure paraffin. PPI= 15, 10, and 5 metal foam decreases the temperature difference, voltage, and power generation at most by 74.57%, 71.02%, and 74.54% compared with PPI= 0. Compared with & omega; = 0% nanoparticles, the temperature drop rates of & omega; = 1.0%, 0.8%, and 0.5% nanoparticles increase at most by 103.0%, 79.69% and 39.84% respectively. To a certain extent nanoparticles and metal foam are not conducive to reverse latent heat power generation although they are beneficial to photothermal performance. This research has reference and guiding significance for reverse latent heat power generation properties of PCMs doped with nanoparticles and metal foam at night.