Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

This research program will examine the application of engineered phase change materials (PCM) in the thermal management of energy conversion devices. Recent assessments show that Canada is warming at a faster rate than most regions in the world mainly due to the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The transportation, building and electricity sectors were responsible for about half of Canada's total GHG emission in 2015. Therefore, there is a huge demand on energy conversion efficiency in these sectors in order to reduce the total GHG emission.The current research aims to tackle the sources of GHG emission in transportation and electricity sectors by enhancing thermal management systems through employing advanced engineered PCM. This research program includes numerical and experimental works that will be performed on two phases. In the first phase of investigations, various equipment such as thermal conductivity analyzer, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy are employed to characterize the nano-enhanced phase change materials (NePCM).In the second phase, the effectiveness of these materials in the thermal management of battery modules and photovoltaic (PV) cells is investigated through different experimental setups. These consist of a state-of-the-art cooling/heating wind tunnel, a fully automated battery tester and an infrared solar simulator. This system will be utilized to perform indoor tests on the battery modules and PV-cells under cold temperatures and different air velocities that are common in Canada. The short-term effects of these materials on the system performance, as well as their long-term effects on the global environment will be investigated. The results of the first phase of the current program will improve the understanding of the effects of nanoparticle networks on the thermophysical properties of the based PCM. It will also broaden the knowledge on the effects of sub-zero temperature solidification on the thermal conductivity enhancement of NePCM. Completion of the second phase will provide sound capability in the establishment of design and control strategies for the advanced PCM-based thermal management systems. The results will further assist to identify which aspects and properties need to be reinvestigated and altered to achieve the optimal performance of PCM-based thermal management systems in cold climate conditions.The research program proposed provides a solution to the most persistent low thermal conductivity problem of PCM in thermal management of batteries and PV cells. Additionally, it develops new knowledge that establishes the foundations for the highly efficient synthesis of carbon-based NePCM and the wide application of these environmental-friendly technologies in the Canadian climate. This work offers training of highly qualified personnel which will benefit the automotive, environmental and renewable energy industries in Canada.