Invention Reference Number: 202305371

Technology Summary

Phase change materials store and release thermal energy from and into their surrounding environment when undergoing a phase change such as a solid to liquid or liquid to gas transition. In this way, the material stores energy for when it is needed. When incorporated into building materials, these materials can be leveraged to reduce energy consumption during heating and cooling. But the technology presents challenges, as phase change materials must be encapsulated efficiently to maximize energy transfer, minimize leakage, and ensure reliable performance for extended periods of time. The primary goal of this technology is to provide a resilient thermal energy storage system which optimizes energy transfer while preventing leakage of phase change material even if regions are damaged. This is achieved by periodically encapsulating phase change materials within a polymer sheath in a continuous method.

Description

This technology is a process that enables liquid isolation within coaxially (melt or solution) spun fiber composed of a polymer sheath and a liquid core. This minimizes loss of phase change materials, limiting leakage of the liquid core from the entire coaxially spun fiber in the event of sheath fracture. Excessive leakage from ruptures in polymer sheaths leads to loss of function. This process adds an isolation step that forces the liquid core from the regions, allowing the polymer solution or melt serving as the sheath to fuse. Stored energy can then be used when needed. The sheaths have many potential areas of placement such as in ceiling tiles, walls, or subflooring of a building.

Benefits

• Low cost
• Maximizes energy transfer into a building
• Stores energy, reduces waste heat
• Scalable, direct, continuous process to encapsulate phase change materials
• Can tune diameter of tubes with encapsulated material

Applications and Industries

• Building construction
• Building materials manufacturing
• Textiles
• Electric vehicle battery production

Contact

To learn more about this technology, email partnerships@ornl.gov or call 865-574-1051.

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