LEMTA is proud to have been awarded 4 grants under the ANR 2023 generic call for projects: 3 Collaborative Research Projects (CRP) and 1 Young Researchers Project (YRP).
1/4 Focus on the JCJC PROMENADE project
Physical characterisation of new composite materials for thermal energy storage; multi-scale approach
(Basic Sciences for Energy Axis)
The PROMENADE project involves studying the physical properties of innovative phase change composite materials (C-CMPs) for thermal storage applications. Different multi-scale approaches will be used to characterise the thermal and rheological properties of fluids incorporated into porous matrices, and ultimately to improve their efficiency. In this context, the objectives that will be addressed during this research are:
1) the precise evaluation of the properties of PCMs (i.e. thermal, rheological and structural) as well as the characteristics of composite systems, by means of numerical simulations and multi-scale experiments
2) the study of thermal transport in the C-MCP produced
3) study of the solid/liquid phase transition kinetics of PCMs alone and C-CMPs using Raman spectroscopy
4) adjusting the efficiency of C-MCP when subjected to varying thermal conditions
In order to provide innovative solutions for such energy storage devices, we propose to study their behaviour in relation to possible modifications of the characteristics of these systems, in particular through control of the morphology and composition of the host matrix. On a microscopic scale, the main objective is to increase the density of nucleation sites to improve the crystallisation of MCPs by introducing solid/liquid interfaces. Ultimately, this will improve macroscopic properties such as effective heat capacity and thermal conductivity. In conclusion, this approach aims to provide the theoretical and experimental basis needed to improve the efficiency of C-CMP-based thermal storage units.
Coordinated by Mykola ISAIEV – Energy transport in materials, interfaces and nanostructures team, this interdisciplinary project involves several LEMTA teams: Fluids and complex flows in industry and nature – Transfers in fluids – MRI for engineering and the Electronics, instrumentation and metrology joint service.
Total funding: €292 k | Duration: 42 months
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From atoms to full-scale systems: multi-scale problems that we propose to solve as part of PROMENADE. (i-ii) DFT and MD simulations up to (iii-iv) final “composite-PCMs” systems with tailor-made properties for energy storage.