Thermal Energy Storage Characterization of Environmental-Friendly Bio-Based PCMs as an Alternative to Petroleum-Based Paraffin Waxes

Thermal-Energy Storage (TES) properties of organic phase change materials have been experimentally investigated and reported in this paper. Three paraffin-based PCMs and one bio-based one are considered with melting temperatures of 24 °C, 25 °C and 26 °C. Sensible heat storage capacities, melting characteristics and latent heat enthalpies are investigated through DSC measurements. Two alternative methods, namely the classical dynamic and the step-wise approach, are performed and compared with the aim to eliminate and/or overcome possible measurement DSC errors. The latters are due to the size of the samples and their representativity, heating/cooling rate effects and the low conductivity of the PCMs, which may affect the results and possibly cause a loss of objectivity of the measurements. Based on results achieved from this study, clear informations can be figured out on how to conduct and characterize paraffin and bio-based PCMs, and possible how to apply them in TES calculations for building applications and/or simulations