Electrospun ultrafine composite fibers of binary fatty acid eutectics and polyethylene terephthalate as innovative form‐stable phase change materials for storage and retrieval of thermal energy

In this study, four fatty acids of lauric acid (LA), myristic acid (MA), palmitic acid (PA), and stearic acid (SA) were selected to prepare six binary fatty acid eutectics of LA‐MA, LA‐PA, LA‐SA, MA‐PA, MA‐SA, and PA‐SA; thereafter, electrospun ultrafine composite fibers with the binary fatty acid eutectics encapsulated in the supporting matrices of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were prepared as innovative form‐stable phase change materials for storage and retrieval of thermal energy. The morphological structures and thermal energy storage properties of the ultrafine composite fibers were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), respectively. The SEM results indicated that the fibers had the cylindrical morphology with diameters of 1–2 µm; some had smooth surfaces, while others had wrinkled surfaces with grooves. The DSC results indicated that the phase transition temperatures of binary fatty acid eutectics were lower than those of individual fatty acids; the enthalpy values associated with melting and crystallization for the eutectics encapsulated in the composite fibers were considerably reduced, whereas there were no appreciable changes on the phase transition temperatures. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fabrication and characterization of electrospun fatty acid form-stable phase change materials in the presence of copper nanoparticles

Latent heat storage system using phase change materials (PCMs) has been recognized as one of the most useful technologies for energy conservation. In this study, a novel type of fatty acid eutectic of methyl palmitate (MP) and lauric acid (LA)/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) composite phase change fiber is prepared by single electrospinning method. Additionally, copper nanoparticles (CNPs) with different mass ratio are combined for improving the thermal conductivity of the PCM. The structure and morphology of the fabricated composite PCMs are observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the thermal properties and performance are also characterized. SEM results show that the liquid fatty acid has been fully stabled by the three-dimensional structure of the fibers. Good compatibility among the components of the composites is also demonstrated. Besides, the addition of nanoparticles leads to an improved thermal conductivity by over 115.2% and a phase transition temperature 21.24 °C as well as a high latent heat of 85.07 J/g. Moreover, excellent thermal reliability of the phase change fiber is confirmed by multiple thermal cycles. Hence, the composite PCM prepared in this study shows a promising potential for thermal energy system such as building insulating and thermal mass regulating textiles.     

The thermal storage performance of mixtures consisting of liquid paraffin and fatty acids

The thermal storage performance of binary mixtures consisting of fatty acids and liquid paraffin (LP) was studied experimentally. The study is to look for the material with suitable phase transition temperature and high phase change latent heat. The phase transition temperatures of binary mixtures consisting of capric acid and other four kinds of fatty acid are between 20°C and 30°C, and the phase change latent heat is high. They are ideal phase change materials used in the wall. The binary mixtures consisting of stearic acid, palmitic acid, lauric acid (LA) and myristic acid have high phase transition temperatures, and they are not suitable to use in the wall. The phase transition temperatures of mixtures consisting of LP and LA are between 20°C and 30°C, and the phase change latent heat is high. They can be used in the wall. The thermal stability of fatty binary mixtures is good.     

Effects of nano-SiO2 on morphology,thermal energy storage,thermal stability,and combustion properties of electrospun lauric acid/PET ultrafine composite fibers as form-stable phase change materials

The ultrafine composite fibers consisting of lauric acid (LA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and silica nanoparticles (nano-SiO₂) were prepared through the materials processing technique of electrospinning as an innovative type of form-stable phase change materials (PCMs). The effects of nano-SiO₂ on morphology, thermal energy storage, thermal stability, and combustion properties of electrospun LA/PET/SiO₂ composite fibers were studied. SEM images revealed that the LA/PET/SiO₂ composite fibers with nano-SiO₂ possessed desired morphologies with reduced average fiber diameters as compared to the LA/PET fibers without nano-SiO₂. DSC measurements indicated that the amount of nano-SiO₂ in the fibers had an influence on the crystallization of LA, and played an important role on the heat enthalpies of the composite fibers; while it had no appreciable effect on the phase change temperatures. TGA results suggested that the incorporation of nano-SiO₂ increased the onset thermal degradation temperature, maximum weight loss temperature, and charred residue at 700 °C of the composite fibers, indicating the improved thermal stability of the fibers. MCC tests showed that the heat resistance effect and/or barrier property generated by nano-SiO₂ resulted in an increase of initial combustion temperature and a decrease of the heat release rate for the electrospun ultrafine composite fibers.     

Fatty acid/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) blends as form-stable phase change materials for latent heat thermal energy storage

Fatty acids such as stearic acid (SA), palmitic acid (PA), myristic acid (MA), and lauric acid (LA) are promising phase change materials (PCMs) for latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) applications, but high cost is the most drawback which limits the utility area of them in thermal energy storage. The use of fatty acids as form-stable PCM will increase their feasibilities in practical LHTES applications due to reduced cost of the energy storage system. In this regard, a series of fatty acid/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) blends, SA/PMMA, PA/PMMA, MA/PMMA, and LA/PMMA were prepared as new kinds of form-stable PCMs by encapsulation of fatty acids into PMMA which acts as supporting material. The blends were prepared at different mass fractions of fatty acids (50, 60, 70, 80, and 90% w/w) to reach maximum encapsulation ratio. All blends were subjected to leakage test by heating the blends over the melting temperature of the PCM. The blends that do not allow leakage of melted PCM were identified as form-stable PCMs. The form-stable fatty acid/PMMA (80/20 wt.%) blends were characterized using optic microscopy (OM), viscosimetry, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy methods, and the results showed that the PMMA was compatible with the fatty acids. In addition, thermal characteristics such as melting and freezing temperatures and latent heats of the form-stable PCMs were measured by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique and indicated that they had good thermal properties. On the basis of all results, it was concluded that form-stable fatty acid/PMMA blends had important potential for some practical LHTES applications such as under floor space heating of buildings and passive solar space heating of buildings by using wallboard, plasterboard or floor impregnated with a form-stable PCM due to their satisfying thermal properties, easily preparing in desired dimensions, direct usability without needing an add encapsulation and eliminating the thermal resistance caused by shell and thus reducing cost of LHTES system.     

癸酸-棕榈酸二元复合相变材料的相变特性研究

通过熔融共混法制备一系列二元脂肪酸复合相变材料,并利用步冷曲线法确定癸酸-棕榈酸(CA-PA)二元复合相变材料的最佳质量配比为86∶14,其共晶温度为22.1℃。采用傅里叶红外光谱仪(FT-IR)、冷热加速循环实验和瞬态平面热源法(TPS)等研究CA-PA复合相变材料的结构与性能,发现CA-PA的FT-IR曲线上同时存在CA和PA的特征吸收峰,表明CA与PA是通过分子力作用在一起的。然后对CA-PA进行400次5~80℃冷热加速循环后,发现其相变温度变化不大于0.5℃,可见CA-PA热稳定性良好,且导热系数为0.151 W/(m·K)。同时,根据差示扫描量热仪(DSC)分析得到CA-PA的相变温度和相变潜热分别为21.78℃和154.7 J/g,这与通过步冷曲线得到的共晶温度十分符合,因此该CA-PA复合相变材料适用于建筑节能和热回收领域。     

Study on preparation and thermal properties of binary fatty acid/diatomite shape-stabilized phase change materials

The choice of fatty acids as shape-stabilized phase change materials (PCMs) will increase the feasibilities of PCMs in practical applications due to the low price of the fatty acids. Compounding different fatty acids for each other is an effective way to obtain a PCM with a suitable phase-transition temperature. In this study, a series of binary fatty acids composed by capric acid, lauric acid, palmitic acid and stearic acid for each other were prepared using the phase diagram thermal dynamics calculation method. Then these binary fatty acids are absorbed in four kinds of diatomites with different specific areas, which act as a supporting material, to prepare shape-stabilized PCMs. The prepared shape-stabilized PCMs are characterized by the Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis method. The results show that there is an optimum absorption ratio between binary fatty acids and the diatomite. The latent heat of capric-lauric acid/diatomite decreases to 57% of that of capric-lauric acid, and the phase-transition temperature rises from 16.36 to 16.74 °C when the capric-lauric acid is absorbed in the diatomite. The prepared capric-lauric acid/diatomite composite PCM has proper melting temperatures and latent heat for thermal energy storage application in buildings.     

Fatty acid eutectic/polymethyl methacrylate composite as form-stable phase change material for thermal energy storage

This work is focused on the preparation and characterization of fatty acid eutectic/polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) form-stable phase change material (PCM). Capric acid (CA), lauric acid (LA), myristic acid (MA) and stearic acid (SA) were selected to prepare binary fatty acid eutectic for the sake of decreasing the phase change temperature. Using the method of self-polymerization, CA–LA, CA–MA, CA–SA and LA–MA eutectics acting as the heat-absorbing materials and PMMA serving as the supporting material were compounded in the ratio of 50/50 wt.%. The relations between mass fraction of LA–MA eutectic and latent heat and compressive strength of LA–MA/PMMA composite were discussed, and the feasible maximum mass fraction of LA–MA eutectic was determined to be 70%. CA–LA/PMMA, CA–MA/PMMA, CA–SA/PMMA and LA–MA/PMMA composites were examined to investigate their potential application in building energy conservation. Scanning electron microscope and polarizing optical microscope observations showed that fatty acid eutectic was coated by PMMA thus the composite remained solid when the sample was heated above the melted point of the fatty acid. Fourier-transform infrared results indicated that fatty acid and PMMA had no chemical reaction and exhibited good compatibility with each other. According to the differential scanning calorimetry results, phase change temperatures of CA–LA/PMMA, CA–MA/PMMA, CA–SA/PMMA and LA–MA/PMMA composites were 21.11 °C, 25.16 °C, 26.38 °C and 34.81 °C and their latent heat values were determined to be 76.3 kJ/kg, 69.32 kJ/kg, 59.29 kJ/kg and 80.75 kJ/kg, respectively. Moreover, thermal stability and expansibility of the form-stable PCMs were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis and volume expansion coefficient respectively, and the results indicated that the composites were available for building energy conservation.     

Development and energy evaluation of phase change material composite for building energy‐saving

Phase change materials (PCMs) contributed to building energy‐saving and thermal comfort through increasing the thermal capacity of building envelopes. In this study, a phase change material composite was developed by using the PCMs mixture of capric acid (CA) and lauric acid (LA) as the primary phase change energy storage agent and using the solid waste fly ash as a carrier material. The results showed that for Guangdong, the ideal PCMs mixture should have a transition temperature of 25.5^oC, which could be obtained by using a mass ratio of CA/LA of 4:6. Then, experiment results also indicate that the optimum adsorption ratio of 2:1 (FA/PCMs) was detected for the synthesis of this FA/PCMs composite, which has the latent heat of 45.38 J/g and exists excellent thermal reliability. Moreover, simulation results by using EnergyPlus show that the proposed composite has a good building energy‐saving effect.     

Photo-to-thermal conversion and energy storage of lauric acid/expanded graphite composite phase change materials

To make better use of solar energy, lauric acid/expanded graphite (LA/EG) composite phase change materials (PCMs) were synthesized to collect and store solar energy as latent heat thermal energy. The results of thermal characteristics show that when the mass fraction of EG is 5%, 10%, and 15%, the latent heat of LA/EG is 164.5, 156.9, and 148.0 J/g, and the thermal conductivity is 2.73, 7.98, and 10.54 W/(m·K). Leakage test shows that LA/EG PCMs with EG mass fraction of 10% and 15% are form stable after phase change. One thousand thermal cycles prove good thermal reliability of LA/EG. TG analysis indicates LA/EG PCMs have good thermal stability within operating temperature range. The Ultraviolet-visible spectra reveal that the absorbance of LA/EG composite PCMs would increase as the mass fraction of EG increases. Photothermal conversion experiment results indicate that the photothermal conversion efficiency of LA/EG composite PCMs increases as the mass fraction of EG increases, and the efficiency can reach 95% when the mass fraction of EG is 15%. Moreover, it was also found that the process of photothermal conversion can be accelerated with stronger illumination intensity or smaller heat transfer size. All the results show that the prepared LA/EG PCMs can convert solar energy into thermal energy and store it in the form of latent heat at the same time, which indicates it has promising prospect in the application of solar energy conversion and storage.     

Study on preparation,structure and thermal energy storage property of capric–palmitic acid/attapulgite composite phase change materials

Fatty acid phase change materials (PCMs) have some advantages such as less corrosivity, no separation of subcooling phase and low price. In this paper, capric acid and palmitic acid are composited according to a certain mass ratio to prepare binary fatty acid. Capric–palmitic acid are absorbed into attapulgite by vacuum method to prepare capric–palmitic acid/attapulgite composite PCMs. Analysis methods such as differential scanning analysis (DSC), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and specific surface analysis (BET method) are used to test the thermal properties, structure and composition of the prepared composite PCM. The results indicate that the pore structure of the caplic–paltimic acid/attapulgite composite PCM is open-ended tubular capillary, which is beneficial to the adsorption. Capric acid and palmitic acid can be absorbed uniformly into attapulgite and the optimum absorption ratio of capric–palmitic binary fatty acid is 35%. There is no chemical reaction between the capric–palmitic acid and attapulgite. The phase change temperature of the capric–palmitic acid/attapulgite composite PCM is 21.71 °C and the latent heat is 48.2 J/g.     

Influences of expanded graphite on structural morphology and thermal performance of composite phase change materials consisting of fatty acid eutectics and electrospun PA6 nanofibrous mats

In the present work, three fatty acid eutectics of capric acid (CA)–lauric acid (LA), capric acid–palmitic acid (PA), and capric acid–stearic acid (SA) were prepared through melt-blending followed by ultrasonication and were investigated as model phase change materials (PCMs); for comparison, the individual fatty acid of CA was also studied. The DSC measurements indicated that the phase transition temperatures of fatty acid eutectics were lower than those of individual fatty acid of CA. Thereafter, the polyamide 6 (PA6) nanofibers and PA6/EG composite nanofibers with 10 wt.% expanded graphite (EG) were prepared by electrospinning; and then composite PCMs with fatty acid eutectics absorbed in and/or supported by the overlaid mats of electrospun nanofibers (e.g., PA6 and PA6/EG) were explored for storage and retrieval of thermal energy. Influences of the EG on structural morphologies, thermal energy storage properties and thermal energy storage/retrieval rates of composite PCMs were respectively characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and measurement of melting/freezing times. The results indicated that the additions of EG caused the interfaces between fatty acid eutectics and PA6 nanofibrous mats to become more illegible; increased the absorption capacity of fatty acid eutectics within nanofibrous mats. The enthalpies of melting and crystallization of composite PCMs with EG were higher than those of the corresponding composite PCMs without EG, whereas there were no appreciable changes on the phase transition temperatures. The EG improved thermal energy storage/retrieval rates of composite PCMs were also confirmed by comparing the melting/freezing times of CA/PA6/EG and CA–SA/PA6/EG with those of CA/PA6 and CA–SA/PA6, respectively. The results from the SEM observation showed that composite PCMs had no or little variations in shape and surface morphology after heating/cooling processes.     

Some fatty acids used for latent heat storage: thermal stability and corrosion of metals with respect to thermal cycling

The present study includes thermal stability of some fatty acids as phase change materials (PCMs). The selected fatty acids were stearic, palmitic, myristic and lauric acid with melting temperatures between 40–63°C and industrial-grade with 90–95 % purity. Latent heat storage capacity and phase transition temperature of the PCMs were determined by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) technique as a function of after repeated thermal cycles such as 40, 410, 700 and 910. The present work also comprises the investigation of corrosion resistance of some construction materials to the fatty acids over a long period. The containment materials tested were stainless steel (SS 304 L), carbon steel (steel C20), aluminium (Al) and copper (Cu). Gravimetric analysis as mass loss (mg/cm²), corrosion rate (mg/day) and a microscopic or matellographic investigation were performed for corrosion tests after 910 thermal cycles. DSC measurements showed that all fatty acids investigated as PCMs have a good thermal stability as a function of latent heat and phase transition temperature range for an actual middle-term thermal energy storage utility. However, in long-term solar thermal applications, the palmitic acid and myristic acid may be considered more suitable PCMs than the others. From the gravimetric and metallographic results, it can be concluded that stainless steel (SS 304L) with chromium oxide (Cr₂O₃) surface layer and Al with aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃) surface layer are essentially compatible with the investigated fatty acids. Carbon steel (Steel C20) and Cupper (Cu) are only preferantially compatible with PCMs.     

Fatty acids and their mixtures as phase-change materials for thermal energy storage

An analysis of thermal properties of fatty acids and their binary mixtures has shown that they are attractive candidates for latent heat thermal storage in space heating applications. In this study, the method of differential scanning calorimetry was used to determine the transition temperatures and latent heat of transition of the fatty acids and their binary mixtures. These properties are of prime importance in the design of a latent heat thermal storage system.The melting range of the fatty acids (capric, lauric, palmitic and stearic) was observed to be approximately from 30°C to 65°C. Their heat of transition was observed to have a range from approximately 153 to 182 J/g. The eutectic points were determined for the binary mixtures of the fatty acids. The melting points of the eutectics for the binary systems of capric-lauric, lauric-palmitic, lauric-stearic and palmitic-stearic acids were found to be 18°C, 32.7°C, 34°C and 51°C respectively. The corresponding heats of melting were 120, 145, 150 and 160 J/g, respectively. The fatty acids and their eutectic mixtures were examined with an infrared spectrophotometer to ascertain the polymorphic forms and material purities.     

石墨泡沫/共晶盐复合相变材料制备

选择KNO3/NaNO3二元体系按照质量比4∶6制备共晶盐,对共晶盐进行了熔点及熔化潜热的测量;将石墨泡沫这一新型材料作为强化基体,共晶盐作为相变材料（PCM）,采用熔融浸渗法制备了适用于太阳能热发电系统储能装置的石墨泡沫/共晶盐复合相变材料。采用扫描电镜对复合相变材料表面的微观结构进行了表征,并对其熔点、潜热、等效导热系数等热物性参数进行了测试。结果表明：共晶盐与石墨泡沫复合效果比较理想;复合前后共晶盐的熔点和潜热几乎没有发生变化;复合相变材料的等效导热系数得到了显著提升,石墨泡沫对相变材料起到了导热强化作用,满足高温蓄热的要求。     

Electrospun capric acid/polyethylene terephthalate composite nanofibres for storage and retrieval of thermal energy

Abstract

Composite nanofibres based on capric acid (CA) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with different mass ratios of CA/PET ranging from 0·5∶1, 1∶1, 1·5∶1, 2∶1 to 2·5∶1 were fabricated by electrospinning as innovative form-stable phase change materials for storage and retrieval of thermal energy. The morphological structures, thermal energy storage properties and thermal stability of electrospun CA/PET composite nanofibres were characterised by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) respectively. The FE-SEM images revealed that the electrospun CA/PET composite nanofibres had a cylindrical morphology with average fibre diameters in the range of about 145–192 nm. Additionally, the FE-SEM and TEM images indicated that the CA distributed on the surface and within the core of the composite nanofibres. The results acquired from DSC analyses indicated that the mass ratio of CA versus PET played an important role on the enthalpy values of melting and crystallisation of the composite nanofibres, while it had no appreciable effect on the temperatures of phase transitions. Moreover, the results of DSC thermal cycling suggested that the thermal energy storage properties of the CA in the composite nanofibres had hardly been influenced during thermal cycling, indicating that the electrospun CA/PET composite nanofibres had good thermal reliability. The TGA results showed that both the onset thermal degradation temperature and the charred residue at 700°C of the composite nanofibres were lower than those of pure PET nanofibres as a result of the thermal instability of the CA molecular chains.     

Preparation and thermal property of a tetradecane-octanoic acid eutectic phase change material

采用低共熔法研制了一种相变温度在0~3℃的二元有机相变蓄冷材料,该材料由十四烷和正辛酸按一定比例混合组成。首先通过理论计算预测二元最低共熔混合物的比例,确定其理论最低共熔点温度以及潜热值,然后围绕共晶点配制了5种不同比例的混合物。通过差示热量扫描仪、步冷曲线、Hot disk热常数分析仪测量其热物性,并利用高低温交变箱进行循环稳定性实验。当十四烷和正辛酸的摩尔质量比为51：49时,有最低共熔点温度为1.0℃,相变潜热为191.8 J/g,热导率为0.379 W/（m·K）。对其进行100次充放冷实验,循环后相变温度为0.9℃,相变潜热为191.5 J/g,相变蓄冷时间缩短了24.3%,热稳定性良好。实验结果表明,十四烷-正辛酸有机复合相变材料在低温储能中有可观的应用价值。     

Thermal energy storage properties of paraffin and fatty acid binary systems

In this paper, 20 kinds of paraffin mixtures and fatty acid mixtures were prepared. Phase change temperatures of these mixtures are between 20°C and 30°C, and the phase change latent heats are big. The phase change temperatures and latent heats of these materials were tested by differential scanning calorimeter after multiple heat cycles. The testing results were compared in order to discuss the thermal stabilities of paraffin mixtures and fatty acid mixtures. The results showed that the thermal stabilities of phase change materials (PCMs) are good after 500 cycles, and the phase change temperatures and latent heats have small fluctuations. The thermal stability of fatty acids mixtures is better than that of paraffin materials. Paraffin mixtures and fatty acid mixtures are ideal PCMs used for the wall because of their good stabilities. The results can provide reference and basis for the application of paraffin and fatty acid in the energy-saving.     

Preparation and properties of caprylic‐nonanoic acid mixture/expanded graphite composite as phase change material for thermal energy storage

To satisfy the application demands for latent heat storage in the temperature range from 5°C to 15°C, an original composite phase change material (PCM), CA‐NA/EG (caprylic‐nonanoic acid/expanded graphite), was prepared and characterized. For CA‐NA/EG, the mass ratio of CA and NA was 8:2, and the mass percentage of the CA‐NA in CA‐NA/EG composite PCM was determined as 90% by leakage test. The melting and freezing points of the CA‐NA/EG were 6.84°C and 9.34°C, and corresponding latent heats were 108.75 kJ/kg and 107.67 kJ/kg. In addition, its thermal conductivity, thermal stability and reliability were investigated by thermal conductivity apparatus (TCA), thermal gravimetric analyzer (TGA), and accelerated thermal cycle test for 100 melt/freeze cycles, respectively. The results showed that the CA‐NA/EG had a good thermal stability and an excellent thermal reliability. Moreover, the thermal conductivity of CA‐NA/EG had an improvement of 25% than that of the CA‐NA. On the other hand, the accelerated thermal cycle test also indicated that the CA‐NA/EG had no supercooling during all melt/freeze cycles. Therefore, the prepared composite PCM, CA‐NA/EG, can be applied for low‐temperature thermal energy storage owing to its proper melting temperature, acceptable latent heat and thermal conductivity, excellent thermal stability and reliability.     

Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Fatty Acid Blends for Thermal Energy Storage

Abstract

This article is aimed to prepare the blends of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with fatty acids (lauric, myristic, palmitic, and stearic acids) as shape-stabilized phase change material (PCM), to prove the miscibility of fatty acids with the PVA by microscopic investigation and infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and to measure their melting temperature and the latent heat of fusion by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis methods. In the blends, the fatty acids, which are dispersed in the solid network of the polymer, act as latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) material during its solid-liquid phase change when the polymer (PVA) has function of supporting material because of its structural strength. Therefore, the shape-stabilized fatty acids can keep the same shape in a solid shape without leakage of liquid fatty acids by aid of PVA in solid state. The maximum mixture ratio for all fatty acids in the shape-stabilized form was found as 50 wt%. By using DSC analysis method, the melting temperatures and latent heats of the shape-stabilized lauric, myristic, palmitic and stearic acids were determined as 39.8, 50.2, 56.2, and 67.4°C and 96.4, 105.3, 121.6, and 132.6 J/g, respectively. The results indicate that the PVA/fatty acids blends as shape-stabilized PCM have great potential for passive solar LHTES applications in terms of their satisfactory thermal properties and utility advantage of without encapsulation.