Quantification of the Impact of Embedded Graphite Nanofibers on the Transient Thermal Response of Paraffin Phase Change Material Exposed to High Heat Fluxes

Paraffin phase change material (PCM) is enhanced with suspended graphite nanofibers at high loading levels. The loading levels reach in excess of 10% by weight. The thermal effects of the nanofiber loading level, the PCM module design, and the applied power density on the transient thermal response of the system are examined. A strong effect of nanofiber loading level on thermal performance is found, including a suppression of Rayleigh-Benard convection currents at high loading levels. Increases in nanofiber loading level also result in lowered heating rates and greater thermal control of the heated base. Increases in power density are found to result in higher heating rates, and increases in mass lead to lower operating temperatures. The design of the module is found to have a strong effect on thermal performance. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4006008]