DSC test error of phase change material (PCM) and its influence on the simulation of the PCM floor

• DSC tests with different procedures on capric acid and use the acquired parameters in simulations of a PCM floor.
• Errors with 33％–883％ deviation for phase transition range of PCM were discovered for the improperly arranged tests.
• Present reliable latent heat, solidus temperature and liquids temperature of this common PCM.
• Assess the impact of misinterpreted enthalpy-capacity function on the simulated thermal effect of the PCM floor.

Reliable parameters of phase change material are essential for design and simulation of the PCM floor, which can be effectively used in heating system with non-continuous energy. This paper summarized latent heat, solidus temperature and liquids temperature of a typical PCM (capric acid) from reported tests based on differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). It is discovered that the results for the same PCM were significantly incongruent. Then, we arranged DSC tests with different procedures on capric acid and use the acquired parameters in simulations of a PCM floor, which has been reported with detailed experimental results in our former research. The aim is to present reliable latent heat, solidus temperature and liquids temperature of this common PCM and assess the impact of misinterpreted enthalpy-capacity function on the simulated thermal storage and releasing effect of the PCM floor. Errors with 33％–883％ deviation for phase transition range of PCM were discovered from the improperly arranged tests. In the cases of simulation, a maximum difference of 20% was observed for the floor surface temperature. It means it is worthwhile setting standard DSC tests and ascertaining right effective capacity or enthalpy function of PCM in simulations related to PCM system design.