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. 2019 Jun 30:24:e00359.
doi: 10.1016/j.btre.2019.e00359. eCollection 2019 Dec.

Novel phase change materials for thermal energy storage: Evaluation of tropical tree fruit oils

Gideon Lawer-Yolar  1 , Benjamin Dawson-Andoh  1 , Emmanuel Atta-Obeng  1
Affiliations

Novel phase change materials for thermal energy storage: Evaluation of tropical tree fruit oils

Gideon Lawer-Yolar et al. Biotechnol Rep (Amst). .

Erratum in

Abstract

We report for the first time the evaluation of oils from the tropical forest tree, Allanblackia, shea butter and palm kernel oil as a potential phase change material for thermal energy storage based upon its thermo-physical and chemical properties. Differential Scanning Calorimetry showed that all the oils were polymorphic and hence exhibited multiple melting/freezing profile over a wide range. For both melting and freezing cycles, Allanblackia oil showed high latent heat of energy (80.53 J/g) with the highest melting point profile (34.74 °C) of all the oils. Thermo-gravimetric analysis showed that all the oil samples were thermally stable and did not degrade within the temperature of interest even though Allanblackia oil showed an increase in weight around 37 °C indicating oxidative instability. Chemical stability was confirmed by FTIR spectra. Of all the oils studied, Allanblackia exhibited a potential for use as a PCM for thermal energy storage if purified to improve oxidative stability.

Keywords: Phase change materials; thermal storage; tropical fruit oils.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The DSC thermogram of Allanblackia spp. oil, shea butter and palm kernel oil.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The TGA thermogram of Allanblackia spp. oil, shea butter and palm kernel oil.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Key peaks of the overlaid FTIR spectra of the three oils in the 2800 cm−1-3051 cm-1 region, 700 cm−1 and 1371 cm−1 region, and at 1743 cm−1.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Overlaid DSC thermogram for non- and thermally cycled oils.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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