The Phase Change Matters e-mail newsletter is a weekly summary of the latest news and research on phase change materials and thermal energy storage. To subscribe, visit www.puretemp.com/subscribe. For more frequent updates, follow @puretemp on Twitter or visit the Phase Change Matters blog, www.puretemp.com/pcmatters.
NEW PRODUCTS
PureTemp introduces temperature-control fabric coating
PureTemp LLC has developed a fabric coating engineered to provide an effective buffer against ambient temperature swings in consumer products such as apparel, footwear, bedding, safety, medical, workwear and industrial applications.
Through a proprietary process, PureTemp’s biobased phase change material is enclosed in spherical microcapsules and bound to the surface of the fabric. PCMs absorb, store and release thermal energy as they cycle between solid and liquid states. The PCM coating interacts continuously with the unique microclimate of the human body, storing and releasing energy to balance body temperature and increase comfort.
PureTemp honeycomb pattern coatings are available for knit, woven, interlock, circular knits, nonwoven, cotton, polyester and other blends. The photo above shows what PureTemp coated fabric looks like under a scanning electron microscope.
Dan Keller is directing the business initiative. For more information about PureTemp coated fabrics, contact him via inquiries@puretemp.com or visit puretemp.com/fabrics.
PATENTS
Phase change materials from wax-based colloidal dispersions
U.S. patent application 20190023959 (applicant Henry Co. LLC, El Segundo, Calif.):
“This invention generally relates to phase-change materials (“PCM” or “PCM materials”) made from colloidally-protected wax-based microstructures. This invention also relates to such PCM materials configured in various physical forms. This invention further relates to a process of configuring such PCM materials for a variety of end-use applications in which dampening of temperature fluctuations by absorption and desorption of heat is desired. This invention further relates to preparing colloidally-protected wax-based microstructures in particulate form that function as PCM materials.”
Thermal kinetic energy recovery system for hybrid vehicle
U.S. patent application 20190023113 (applicant Eaton Corp., Cleveland, Ohio):
“A transmission system selectively coupled to an engine crankshaft of an internal combustion engine arranged on a vehicle includes a waste heat recovery (WHR) system, a brake assembly and a phase-change thermal heat storage system. The WHR system selectively circulates a WHR fluid in the transmission system. The brake assembly selectively couples a transmission output shaft to a drive axle. The brake assembly is configured to operate in a braking mode that retards relative rotation between the transmission output shaft and the drive axle while generating heat. The heat storage system includes a housing defining at least one cavity and a fluid transfer manifold. A phase-change material is disposed in the cavity that is configured to change phase during the braking mode.”
Contact lens with metered liquid system
U.S. patent application 20190025610 (applicants California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif., and University of Southern California, Los Angeles):
“A contact lens fluid delivery device having a liquid reservoir connected to a channel with a flow regulator is described. Other eye hydration and variable dioptric power contact lenses are described herein. Also described are implantable liquid delivery apparatuses having a liquid storage reservoir connected to a channel with a flow regulator. These devices and apparatuses are useful for specific, targeted delivery of therapeutic liquids within a subject. In some embodiments, the devices incorporate actuation chambers which provide a driving force releasing the fluid into the targeted area e.g., the eye. The actuation chambers described herein can contain phase change materials or osmotic chambers or a combination thereof to drive the release of fluid.”
IN BRIEF
• Phase Change Energy Solutions Inc. of Asheboro, N.C., this week announced an investment by Pegasus Capital Advisors, Emerald Technology Ventures and Third Prime, an early-stage venture fund and prior investor. Dennis McGill, operations advisor at Pegasus, joined PCES last month as chief executive officer. The company says it will use the proceeds to fund the continued development of its thermal storage products and expand its operations globally. Terms of the investment were not disclosed.
• Mark Richards, right, CEO at Emery Mechanical Engineering in San Diego, is featured in this week’s episode of the HVAC 360 podcast. Richards, former applications engineering manager at Phase Change Energy Solutions, talks about “Phase Change Materials in Practice.”
• 1414 Degrees of Australia reports that the first commercial pilot of its molten silicon energy storage system is one step closer to commissioning. The GAS-TESS will store energy to generate electricity from biogases produced at a wastewater treatment plant.
• In collaboration with Canada’s Université Laval, researchers at the University of the Basque Country in Spain conclude that “fake ISO 9001 quality certificates are very widespread across Chinese companies and that the certification processes of the auditing companies lack credibility.”
• The Association Connecting Electronics Industries has issued a call for technical conference abstracts and educational course proposals for IPC E-TEXTILES 2019 to be held Sept. 11 in Philadelphia, Pa. Topics include reliability, test methods, design, washability and materials innovation. Abstracts and proposals are due by April 10.
RESEARCH ROUNDUP
For our full list of recent academic research, see puretemp.com/academic. Here are highlights from the past week:
From Journal of Thermal Science and Engineering:• Phase Change Material Freezing in an Energy Storage Module for a Micro Environmental Control System
• Phase Change Material Melting in an Energy Storage Module for a Micro Environmental Control System
From Renewable Energy:
• Form-stable oxalic acid dihydrate/glycolic acid-based composite PCMs for thermal energy storage
• Molecular simulation of the structure and physical properties of alkali nitrate salts for thermal energy storage
From Applied Energy:
• Effect of inclination on the thermal response of composite phase change materials for thermal energy storage
From Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells:
• Characterization and thermal performance of microencapsulated sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate as phase change material for thermal energy storage
• Fabrication and applications of dual-responsive microencapsulated phase change material with enhanced solar energy-storage and solar photocatalytic effectiveness
From Energy:
• Numerical investigations of optimal phase change material incorporated into ventilated walls
From Polymer Degradation and Stability:
• EG-based coatings for flame retardance of shape stabilized phase change materials
From Construction and Building Materials:
• Freeze-thaw performance of phase change material (PCM) incorporated pavement subgrade soil
NETWORKING
Connect with PCM experts and industry leaders on LinkedIn
More than 1,400 people have joined a LinkedIn group devoted to the discussion of phase change material and thermal energy storage. The Phase Change Matters group is an interactive complement to the award-winning blog and newsletter of the same name.
You are invited to join the group and connect with PCM and TES experts from around the world. This week we welcome Frank Albri, project manager, Steinel Vertrieb GmbH,
Herzebrock-Clarholz, Germany; Rakesh Ramesh, CEO at PunPaadu, Chennai, India; Nahid Ebrahimi, head of laboratory, Isfahan Science and Technology Town, Iran; Ramarao Ganesha, consultant, New Delhi, India; and Christopher de Vere, sales consultant, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.