July 2020
Paraffin/ Expanded Perlite/Plaster as Thermal Energy Storage Composite
The use of thermal energy storage composite materials allows passive cooling and heating in buildings, yielding substantial energy savings. The purpose of this study is to develop and test a new phase change material (PCM) composite by loading expanded perlite (EP) with paraffin (RT27) to form plaster composites. The leakage tests allowed to unfold the optimal RT27 loading rate. To avoid paraffin leakage out of the composite structure, a waterproof product, Sikalatex® (SL), was used to coat the RT27/EP composite before mixing it with plaster. Thermal properties of RT27/EP/SL integrated in plaster were assessed. The effect of aluminum powder insertion on enhancing the composite thermal properties, was investigated. Paraffin loading rate was 60% by direct impregnation. FTIR analyses proved that the produced composites showed a good chemical compatibility between different components. DSC analyses revealed that composites have suitable energy storage capacities of 51.57 ± 0.01 and 49.95 ±0.15 kJ.kg-1 for RT27/EP/SL and RT/EP/SL/Al, respectively. These composites are suitable for indoor temperature regulation. Thermal cycling tests showed a good thermal stability of plaster PCM composite. Thermal conductivity of plaster composite containing 50% wt of RT27/EP/SL/Al composite was increased by 80% and 68% at 12°C and 40°C respectively compared with the aluminum free composite.
Thermophysical characterization of Posidonia Oceanica marine fibers intended to be used as an insulation material in Mediterranean buildings
The present work focuses on the study of the thermophysical properties of Posidonia Oceanica natural fibers in order to investigate the potential of their use as loose-fill thermal insulation material in the Mediterranean construction. 24 samples were prepared. Bulk densities were varied from 17 kg m-3 to 155 kg m-3. Chemical alkali treatments with various conditions were applied to these fibers. The influence of treatments and of density on morphological and thermophysical properties of samples was evaluated. The surfaces were examined by using scanning electron microscopic. The thermal measurements were performed with the Hot Disk thermal constants analyzer. Results have shown that thermal conductivity decrease when density decreases until an optimum. After that, it increases as the density is reduced. Furthermore, regarding thermal conductivity, it was found out that the effect of chemical treatment is not significant mainly at the low densities. A very slight improvement was found at high densities with treated fibers, mainly the treatment that consists of immerging fibers twice in 2% sodium hydroxide solution during 2 h at 80 °C. Higher mass heat capacity was observed with this same treatment. Additionally, it was revealed in this study that Posidonia-Oceanica fibers have thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity close to conventional insulation materials and higher mass heat capacity that reached 2533 J kg-1 K-1.
Numerical Simulation of GaAs Solar Cell Under Electron and Proton Irradiation
Though gallium arsenide (GaAs) solar cells are proven to be relatively stable in space working conditions, they are prone to the effects of aging, which deteriorate their characteristics. The lifetime of solar cells is restricted by the degree of radiation damage that they receive. This important factor affects the performance of solar cells in practical applications. The aim of this article is to investigate by numerical simulation on the influence of aging on the main characteristics of GaAs solar cells in the space. Degradations of the electrical characteristics are simulated for over a period of 15 years. The atmosphere (AM0) conversion efficiency decreases with time from 19.08% for the unirradiated cells to 10.38% in 15 years of the mission in space. Even with low doses of particle irradiation, the performance is significantly reduced subsequent to usage over the period of 15 years of the mission in space. Numerical simulation results also reveal that the short-circuit current, the open-circuit voltage, and the conversion efficiency decline gradually with time. Moreover, the calculated evolutions are in good agreement with the measured behaviors of GaAs-based solar cells embedded in geostationary satellites during the Navigation Technology Satellite 2 (NTS-2), the Engineering Test Satellite V (ETS-V), and the NAVigation Satellite Timing And Ranging (NAVSTAR) missions, which substantiate the introduced aging law accounting for both the cumulated doses of particles and the different electron and hole traps in the structure.
Numerical Simulation of GaAs Solar Cell Under Electron and Proton Irradiation
Though gallium arsenide (GaAs) solar cells are proven to be relatively stable in space working conditions, they are prone to the effects of aging, which deteriorate their characteristics. The lifetime of solar cells is restricted by the degree of radiation damage that they receive. This important factor affects the performance of solar cells in practical applications. The aim of this article is to investigate by numerical simulation on the influence of aging on the main characteristics of GaAs solar cells in the space. Degradations of the electrical characteristics are simulated for over a period of 15 years. The atmosphere (AM0) conversion efficiency decreases with time from 19.08% for the unirradiated cells to 10.38% in 15 years of the mission in space. Even with low doses of particle irradiation, the performance is significantly reduced subsequent to usage over the period of 15 years of the mission in space. Numerical simulation results also reveal that the short-circuit current, the open-circuit voltage, and the conversion efficiency decline gradually with time. Moreover, the calculated evolutions are in good agreement with the measured behaviors of GaAs-based solar cells embedded in geostationary satellites during the Navigation Technology Satellite 2 (NTS-2), the Engineering Test Satellite V (ETS-V), and the NAVigation Satellite Timing And Ranging (NAVSTAR) missions, which substantiate the introduced aging law accounting for both the cumulated doses of particles and the different electron and hole traps in the structure.
June 2020
Appreciation of the delay in the benefits of the thermal energy released by PCM in civil engineering structures
To optimize de-icers use in winter on roads and airports, some sustainable solutions were promoted in a global project entitled "Roads of the Future". PCM into pavements were then considered to rely on the released enthalpy to delay the occurrence of black ice or snow accumulation. Coupling a spectroscopic monitoring of the PCM behavior and thermography on pavement surface indicated a significant delay between the phase change and the thermal manifestation of the released energy. Considering an accurate description of PCM according to cooling weather phenomena, these elements might provide valuable information for numerical models.
October 2019
Thermal properties of adobe employed in Peruvian rural areas: experimental results and numerical simulation of a traditional bio-composite material
Banto G., karkri M., lefebvre G., horn M., Solis J., Gomez M. Thermal properties of adobe employed in Peruvian rural areas: experimental results and numerical simulation of a traditional bio-composite material, Case Studies in Construction [...]