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Published on: July 17, 2019
Thermal Storage Properties of Molten Nitrate Salt-Based Nanofluids with Graphene Nanoplatelets
Qiangzhi Xie1, Qunzhi Zhu2, Yan Li1
1College of Energy and Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai University of Electric Power, No. 2103 Pingliang Road, Yangpu District, 200090, Shanghai, China.
Abstract:
In this study, the effect of concentration of nanoparticles on the thermal storage properties of molten nitrate salt-based nanofluids with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) was investigated. Solar salt consisting of sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate was utilized as the base material for the nanofluids. Homogeneous dispersion of GNPs within the solar salt was observed through scanning electron microscopy analysis. For both solar salt and resultant nanofluids, differential scanning calorimetry was employed to measure the thermal storage properties, including characteristic temperatures of phase change, startup heat, and specific heat capacity (SHC). A maximum increase of 16.7 % in SHC at the liquid phase was found at an optimal concentration of 1 wt% of GNPs. At the same concentration, the onset temperature decreased by 10.4 °C, the endset temperature decreased by 4.7 °C, and the startup heat decreased by 9 %.
