Energy Conversion & Management 40 (1999) 19791984

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Measurements of transmittance of solar radiation through stearic acid: a latent heat storage material
D. Buddhi*, S.D. Sharma
Thermal Energy Storage Laboratory, School of Energy and Environmental Studies, Devi Ahilya University, Khandwa Road Campus, Indore, 452 017, India Received 22 July 1998; accepted 27 February 1999

Abstract This paper presents the experimental measurements of the transmittivity of commercial grade stearic acid. The eects of temperature and thickness on transmittance have been studied. The study indicates that the eect of temperature on the transmittance of stearic acid in the liquid phase is not signicant. However, it is highly dependent on temperature during the solidication process. Because of its low thermal conductivity and high transmittivity, it can be used as a transparent insulating material. # 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Transmittivity; Phase change material; Solar energy; Latent heat storage

1. Introduction Thermal energy storage is required for the eective use of solar energy. Latent heat storage materials are preferred due to their large energy storage density and isothermal nature of the storage process in comparison to sensible heat storage. The use of phase change materials (PCMs) can be found in solar energy storage systems for cooking [1], water heating [24], green houses [56], energy conservation and heating and cooling of buildings which include the PCM Trombe wall, shutters and building blocks [79]. The candidate PCM should have the following characteristics: (1) melting temperature in the desired range, (ii) high latent heat of fusion, thermal conductivity, specic heat and density,

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +91-731-460309; fax: +91-731-470372. E-mail address: dbuddhi@hotmail.com (D. Buddhi) 0196-8904/99/$ - see front matter # 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. PII: S 0 1 9 6 - 8 9 0 4 ( 9 9 ) 0 0 0 7 7 - 1

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D. Buddhi, S.D. Sharma / Energy Conversion & Management 40 (1999) 19791984

(iii) thermal stability during repeated cycles, (iv) low volume change, (v) non-corrosive, nontoxic and non-ammable and (vi) exhibit no supercooling. Eorts have been made to study the thermophysical properties and to enhance the eective thermal conductivity of PCMs [10,11]. Some PCMs are white, like water, in physical appearance in the liquid state and can transmit solar radiation, but no eorts have been made to study the transmittance of these materials. Latent heat thermal energy storage materials usually have low thermal conductivity, and these materials can act as self insulators. Because of the poor thermal conductivity and good transmittance, these materials can be used as transparent insulation and can also trap the heat. Such materials can be useful for the PCM Trombe wall, solar windows and PCM window shutters. During the sun hours, the heat can be stored by the PCM, and during the sun-o periods, the stored heat can be transmitted to the living space. The main objective of the present study is to measure the transmittance of solar radiation through a PCM in the liquid and semi-liquid phases. Commercial grade stearic acid (white like water in the liquid phase) was taken as a phase change material (m.p. 64.6 C, latent heat 155 J/g) to study its transmittivity. 2. Experimental set-up and measurements The experimental setup consists of one cylindrical glass container for the phase change material of dimensions 15 cm in diameter, 7.5 cm in height and 2 mm in thickness with a glass lid of 5 mm in thickness. The side of the PCM cylindrical container was made black to stop the transmission of solar radiation through the side. Two pyranometers of National Instruments, India, have been used, one for global radiation (P1, Calibration factor 7.5 uV/W/ m2) and another for the measurement of radiation after passing through the PCM (P2, Calibration factor 7.79 uV/W/m2), and P1 was used as a reference pyranometer. The PCM container was kept on a circular stand 3 cm in height on pyranometer P2. Measurements of radiation from both the pyranometers were made using a two channel (front and rear) 5-1/2 digit multimeter (HewlettPackard, 34401A) simultaneously. A mercury thermometer of 18C accuracy was also used for measuring the temperature of the PCM in the liquid or semi-liquid states. The measurements were conducted between 12.00 noon to 1.00 p.m. to avoid the eect of shading of the container on the PCM and to have the smaller angle of incidence of the solar radiation. The pyranometer P2 with circular stand was calibrated with reference to pyranometer P1 against the incident solar radiation. The transmittance of the glass container with lid and without PCM was also measured. Stearic acid was heated above its melting temperature to obtain homogeneity of temperature, and then, the transmittivity was measured at dierent temperatures and thicknesses of the stearic acid. 3. Results and discussions A comparison of the outputs of pyranometer P2 with circular stand and pyranometer P1 are

D. Buddhi, S.D. Sharma / Energy Conversion & Management 40 (1999) 19791984 Table 1 Calibration data of Pyranometer P2 with circular stand with reference to Pyrometer P1 Date 07.11.97 07.11.97 07.11.97 07.11.97 07.11.97 07.11.97 07.11.97 12.11.97 12.11.97 12.11.97 18.11.97 18.11.97 18.11.97 Time (h) 12.00 12.10 12.20 12.30 12.40 12.50 13.00 12.00 12.10 12.40 12.00 12.10 12.30

1981

Output ratio (P2/P1) (%) 98.9 98.8 98.2 99.1 99.8 99.4 101.0 98.4 99.8 98.6 98.9 99.1 99.1

Table 2 Transmittance of PCM glass container without stearic acid Date 07.11.97 07.11.97 07.11.97 07.11.97 07.11.97 07.11.97 Time (h) 12.05 12.15 12.25 12.35 12.45 12.55 Average Transmittance (%) 83.5 83.5 82.4 82.5 82.8 82.1 82.8

Table 3 Variation of transmittance of liquid phase stearic acid for 1 cm thickness at dierent temperatures Date and temperature (8C) 04.10.97 (558C) Time (h) 12.50 12.55 13.00 13.05 Average 12.05 12.10 12.15 12.20 Average 12.00 12.05 12.10 Average Transmittance (%) 97 97 96 96 97 98 99 99 98 99 99 98 100 99

07.10.97 (608)

09.10.97 (658C)

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D. Buddhi, S.D. Sharma / Energy Conversion & Management 40 (1999) 19791984

Table 4 Variation of transmittance of liquid phase stearic acid for 3 cm thickness at dierent temperatures Date and temperature (8C) 12.11.97 (558C) Time (h) 12.45 12.47 12.48 12.50 12.52 12.54 12.56 Average 12.43 12.48 12.50 Average 12.20 12.24 12.25 Average Transmittance (%) 83 82 82 83 81 83 83 82 83 83 82 83 84 85 85 85

08.11.97 (608C) 10.11.97 (608C) 26.11.97 (658C)

tabulated in Table 1. The outputs of these pyranometers are matching within 22%, and the dierence may be due to variations in the local climatic conditions. The solar radiation transmittivity of the PCM glass container with cover at dierent times are given in Table 2. From the data, the average transmittance of the container is calculated, and it is 82.8%. The transmittance of the used PCM was calculated by dividing the measured value of the
Table 5 Variation of transmittance of liquid phase stearic acid for 5 cm thickness at dierent temperatures Date and temperature (8C) 24.11.97 (558C) Time (h) 12.09 12.15 12.26 12.30 Average 12.43 12.45 12.47 12.49 Average 12.26 12.30 12.32 12.35 Average Transmittance (%) 79 81 79 81 80 81 81 81 81 81 82 83 83 83 83

09.12.97 (608C)

09.12.97 (658C)

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1983

Fig. 1. Variation of average transmittance with thickness for stearic acid at 608C temperature.

Fig. 2. Variation of transmittance of stearic acid for 2 cm thickness during solidication.

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D. Buddhi, S.D. Sharma / Energy Conversion & Management 40 (1999) 19791984

transmittance of the glass container with PCM by 82.8. The transmittances of the PCM for 1 cm thickness at 658C, 608C and 558C at dierent times are tabulated in Table 3 along with their average values. The average transmittances at 658C, 608C and 558C are 99%, 99% and 97%, respectively. The transmittances of the PCM for 3 cm thickness at 658C, 608C and 558C at dierent times are tabulated in Table 4 along with their average values. The average transmittances at 658C, 608C and 558C are 85%, 83% and 82%, respectively. The transmittances of the PCM for 5 cm thickness at 658C, 608C and 558C at dierent times are tabulated in Table 5 along with their average values. The average transmittances at 658C, 608C and 558C are 83%, 81% and 80%, respectively. The average transmittance of stearic acid at 608C for thicknesses of 1 to 5 cm is plotted in Fig. 1. From the gure, it can be observed that a major change in the transmittance was occurring between 2 and 3 cm thickness of the stearic acid, and the transmittance at thicknesses of 4 and 5 cm remains nearly constant. The variation of transmittance with temperature of the stearic acid during the solidication process was also measured for a thickness of 2 cm and is plotted in Fig. 2. From this gure, it can be observed that the transmittivity of stearic acid drops considerably between 45598C and becomes nearly constant after 458C. 4. Conclusion In the present study, the transmittance of stearic acid for dierent thicknesses and temperatures were measured. The transmittivity of the liquid phase stearic acid is higher than the glass for the same thickness. Because of the high transmittance and low thermal conductivity of stearic acid, it can be used as a transparent insulation. On the basis of transmittivity, new applications of latent heat storage materials should be identied. References
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