Experimental study of characteristics of a novel waste-modified phase change material with paraffin wax and raw fly ash

Thermal energy storage systems (TES) can fully utilize solar energy by storing excess and using it when required. Latent heat storage systems (LHS) have gained popularity due to their simplicity and high storage capacity. The present work deals with the development of a waste-modified phase change material (PCM) with raw fly ash (RFA) (a byproduct of the clay brick industry). The base or parent PCM is selected as paraffin wax due to its easy availability and nontoxic nature. Some characterization methods like XRD, FTIR, and DSC were applied to study the prepared composite PCM’s different surface, thermal, and chemical properties with 1 wt% of fly ash particles. Good compatibility among the constituents is evident from the XRD and FTIR spectra. There are minimal deviations of 1% and 2% in melting and freezing latent heat, respectively, compared to pristine paraffin wax, as evident from DSC analysis. The thermal reliability of the developed composite is apparent from the constant properties as shown in FTIR and DSC analyses after 100 repeated heating/cooling cycles. This waste-modified PCM with desirable characteristics like thermal reliability and stable temperature range can be an effective energy storage medium, ensuring proper reuse and recycling of wastes like fly ash particles.*