Experimental Study of the Volume Fraction of Coconut Coir Fiber and Graphite on the Absorption and Thermal Conductivity of Beeswax-Based Phase Change Material Composite

Abstract

Phase Change Material (PCM) is one of the energy storage technology with great prospect for the future. This alternative technology is being developed for storing and fulfil the needs of human's energy consumption. This study aims to determine the effect of coconut fibre and graphite volume fraction on absorption and thermal conductivity of organic PCMs beeswax by applying form-stable composite PCM with immersion method. The variation used are 10%, 15%, 25% of coconut fibre, 5% and 10% of graphite with polyester as fillers. The highest absorption test result of 0.227 grams and the highest thermal conductivity of 1169.2496 Watt/m.K obtained from specimens with a variation of 25% coconut fibre, 10% graphite and 65% polyester. While specimens with 10% of coconut fibre, 5% graphite and 85% polyester showed 0.043 grams absorption, specimens with 15% volume fraction variation of coconut fibre, 10% graphite and 75% polyester showed 0.203 grams absorption and both produces the same thermal conductivity value of 985.868 Watt/m.K due to differences in the absorbed beeswax volume.