RESUMEN
The thermal and rheological properties of suspensions of microencapsulated phase change materials (MPCM) in glycerol were investigated. When the microcapsule concentration is raised, the heat storage capacity of the suspensions becomes higher and a slight decline in the thermal conductivity of the suspensions is observed. The temperature-dependent shear-thinning behaviour of the suspensions was found to be strongly affected by non-encapsulated phase change materials (PCM). Accordingly, the rheological properties of the MPCM suspensions could be described by the Cross model below the PCM melting point while a power law model best described the data above the PCM melting point. The MPCM suspensions are interesting for energy storage and heat transfer applications. However, the non-encapsulated PCM contributes to the agglomeration of the microcapsules, which can lead to higher pumping consumption and clogging of piping systems.
RESUMEN
The adsorption of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) by the thermoregulating microcapsules has been studied. The mass ratio of PVP has been changed from 1 to 20, with respect to the lowest amount of PVP value (4.08 g). The results confirmed that a large amount of PVP was adsorbed by the polymeric shell. Experimental data were perfectly fitted by Langmuir model, obtaining at a confidence level of 95% values of 192.9 ± 0.4 g/kg and 0.18 ± 0.11 m3/kg for the maximum adsorption capacity and the equilibrium constant, respectively. It was found that utilizing PVP, at a concentration of 5.03 wt% of the total mass provided optimum conditions for synthesizing thermoregulating microcapsules containing Rubitherm®RT27 from poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) (P(St-DVB)), with the best thermal and physical properties. Finally, the robustness of the process was checked at a large scale by using a reactor that maintains geometrical similarities with that used at laboratory scale. The thermal properties, the encapsulation efficiency, and the microcapsule yield were similar, but at pilot plant scale, narrower particle size distributions were obtained.
