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This paper proposes novel microencapsulated phase change material slurries (MPCSs) as both the energy storage media and heat transfer fluids. The flow and heat transfer characteristics of MPCSs have been experimentally investigated. A series of experiments were conducted in laminar, transition and turbulent flow conditions for MPCSs in a circular tube under constant heat flux, respectively. The results of pressure drop measurements showed that transportation costs of slurries were close to pure water. The heat transfer experiments demonstrated that proposed MPCSs could enhance the heat transfer performance as the heat transfer fluids for thermal system applications in comparison with pure water. The average enhancement percentages of the Nusselt number were 23.9%, 20.5% and 9.1% for MPCS of 5 wt%, and enhancement of the Nusselt number was achieved when phase change material in the microcapsules were in solid, solid/liquid and liquid states, respectively. However, heat transfer enhancement of MPCS depends on the following combination factors: the slurry concentration, the flow rate, the pumping power and the heating rate. Importantly, the phase change process must be carefully controlled in the heat transfer test section with above combination factors in order to take advantages of MPCS over pure water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three nanoscale metal oxides composed of nano TiO 2 , nano Al 2 O 3 , and nano MgO were added to the phase change microcapsule slurry for optimising the heat transfer behaviour. The thermal and rheological properties of the resulting microencapsulated phase change materials (MPCMs) and microencapsulated phase change material slurries (MPCSs) were characterized to determine the effects of added metal oxides in optimising the performance of MPCSs. The impacts of factors like metal oxides, concentrations, and flow rates on the heat transfer behaviour of MPCSs were investigated by forced convective heat transfer experiment with various working conditions. Compared to 6 wt% MPCSs, the heat transfer coefficients (h x) of 6 wt% slurries containing 1 wt% TiO 2 , 1 wt% Al 2 O 3 , and 1 wt% MgO increased by 4.0 %, 2.5 %, and 7.13 %, respectively. Nano-MgO showed the most significant heat transfer enhancement effect on MPCSs. Moreover, the heat transfer performance gradually enhanced as a function of the concentration for nano MgO. Overall, the addition of metal oxides enhanced heat transfer by increasing the thermal conductivity of the slurry, as well as improved the micro-convection effect. The proposed MPCSs are promising for applications in solar photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) systems, chip cooling, thermal management, buildings, and automotive cooling. [Display omitted] • Forced convection heat transfer experiment were conducted with bonded triangular tubes. • Heat transfer enhancement achieved by optimising heat transfer medium and tube structure. • Metal oxide type and concentration have significant effect on heat transfer of slurries. • Nano-MgO showed the most significant heat transfer enhancement effect on slurries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A greater proportion of copper metal foam (CMF) can enhance the heat transfer of paraffin wax and reduce the temperature gradient. • A theoretical model was built to calculate the comprehensive heat transfer coefficient of composite PCMs and to determine the intensity change of heat conduction and natural convection of PCMs with different CMF proportions. • Melting time and heat storage capacity of CMF composite PCMs first increased and then decreased with increasing CMF proportion. • Heat storage rate and comprehensive heat transfer coefficient first decreased and then increased with increasing CMF proportion. • Composite PCMs with a CMF proportion of 0.86% exhibit the best heat storage performance. Phase-change materials (PCMs) can overcome the low energy density and utilization efficiency of solar energy. However, the low thermal conductivity of PCMs significantly affects the thermal efficiency of solar devices; thus, improving the thermal conductivity of PCMs has been the focus of many recent studies. In this study, copper metal foam (CMF) composite PCMs were prepared using paraffin wax and high-pore-density CMF. The effect of the CMF proportion on heat transfer enhancement in the PCM melting process was analyzed using experimental equipment for heat storage visualization. Comprehensive heat transfer coefficients of CMF composite PCMs were obtained. The experimental results showed that as the CMF proportion increased from 0 to 2.15%, the melting time of the CMF composite PCMs and their heat storage capacity first increased and then decreased, whereas the heat storage rate and comprehensive heat transfer coefficient first decreased and then increased. The minimum temperature gradient of 8.09 K was reached when the CMF proportion was 2.15%. More importantly, as the proportion of CMF increased from 0.43 to 2.15%, the proportion of natural convection decreased from 87.90 to 17.69%, and natural convection was the major heat transfer mechanism in the melting process of composite PCMs with a low CMF proportion. The composite PCMs with a CMF proportion of 0.86% has the best heat storage performance when the heat storage capacity and heat storage rate were both considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]