AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF A NANO ENHANCED PHASE CHANGE MATERIAL

Dissertation/Thesis
Year Completed:

List of Authors:

Peter J. Sakalaukus Jr.

Abstract

With numerous possibilities of real-world applications, nanotechnologies have become an important part of research in many industries. The ability to accurately obtain the thermal conductivity of a nanofluid is critical. An experimental investigation to acquire the thermal conductivity of a novel Nano-Enhanced Phase Change Material (NEPCM), in its liquid phase, composed of a paraffin wax and carbon nanofibers will be discussed. The Transient Hot-Wire Method has been successful in measuring the thermal conductivity of the NEPCM in its liquid phase. The experimental results were compared to a thermal measurement analyzer, KD2 Pro, for added verification. Also, the KD2 Pro was used to measure the solid phase of the NEPCM.