The effect of an external AC electric field on the solidification process of Ca(NO3)2.4H2O : a preliminary study
Akhmad Yusuf, Yunita Anggraini, Daniel Kurnia, Inge Magdalena Sutjahja

Dept. of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jl. Ganesha No. 10, Bandung 40132

Abstract

Calcium nitrate tetrahydrate, Ca(NO3)2.4H2O (abbreviated as CaNT), is an inorganic phase change material with a melting point of 44 C. It can be used for various applications in the medium temperature range of thermal energy storage (TES). However, the main disadvantage of inorganic phase change materials is the high supercooling degree caused by the high barrier energy during the solidification process. There are many ways to reduce this energy barrier, and one method is applying an electric field. This paper describes a preliminary study of the effect of an external AC electric field on the solidification process of CaNT. The electric field is applied using a copper plate electrode with a voltage and frequency of 220 Volts and 50 Hz, respectively. The statistical analysis results show that the external AC electric field can reduce the freezing time and supercooling time, making the phase transition sharper. This study is essential to optimize the material performance as a latent TES

Keywords: external AC electric field, Ca(NO3)2.4H2O, solidification

Topic: CHEMISTRY AND MATERIAL SCIENCES