Title: Selection of a phase change material by using the multi-criteria selection method for use in an automotive thermal insulation system

Authors: Andres Mendez; Javier Martínez-Gómez; Nicolalde Juan Francisco

Addresses: Universidad Internacional SEK Ecuador, Quito, EC170134 Quito, Ecuador ' Universidad Internacional SEK Ecuador, Quito, EC170134 Quito, Ecuador; Instituto de Investigación Geológico y Energético (IIGE), Av. de la República E7-263 y Diegod e Almagro – Edificio Sky, Planta baja Código Postal: 170518, Quito, Ecuador ' Universidad Internacional SEK Ecuador, Quito, EC170134 Quito, Ecuador

Abstract: The temperature that a car can reach inside is between 25°C to 40°C in certain environmental circumstances, for this reason studies have been carried out in the field of materials science that allow to control the interior environment of a car. This study proposes the use of alternative materials chosen through multi-criteria selection in order to apply them in thermal insulation, to control the interior temperature of the vehicle when it is parked. Starting from a list of candidate materials, the best material that meets the objective of constantly controlling the interior temperature of a car is determined by multi-criteria analysis, taking into accounts that when using a thermal insulation based on a PCM, an electrical control system would not be needed. It was determined that the ideal PCM for this application is paraffin, given its melting point that is 37°C.

Keywords: automobile; simulation; thermal storage; TES; phase change materials; PCMs; alternative materials; comparison; thermal insulation; energy; heat.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMOR.2021.116314

International Journal of Mathematics in Operational Research, 2021 Vol.19 No.2, pp.220 - 246

Received: 23 Sep 2019
Accepted: 08 Feb 2020
Published online: 20 Jul 2021 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article