Dynamic T-History method - A dynamic thermal resistance for the evaluation of the enthalpy-temperature curve of phase change materials

Thermal energy storage with phase change materials (PCM) provides high storage capacities in small temperature intervals. For the design of storage systems, the enthalpy curve of the used PCM has to be known with high precision. The T-History method has evolved to a widely used method for the measurement of the enthalpy as a function of temperature of PCM because of its simplicity and the advantage to be able to investigate larger sample volumes than typically used for differential scanning calorimeters. In order to ensure isothermal specimen during the measurement a thermal insulation is often mounted around the sample holder, but this insulation material is not considered in the evaluation model. In this work a new evaluation model for insulated T-History setups is developed by an analytical heat balance. This model is validated by numerical simulations of insulated T-History measurements and experimentally. By the use of the new model for the evaluation of the enthalpy a significant increase of accuracy can be achieved.