Abstract

Incorporating solar energy in the housing sector requires adequate materials for energy storage. Some eutectic mixtures of hydrated inorganic salts with near-ambient melting temperatures are a good alternative. Usually experimental methods are used to find a eutectic mixture with a fusion temperature close to that of the environment. An alternative method, which does not require much time and money, is to predict the eutectic point by means of an appropriate thermodynamic model. In the present study the BET model (Brunauer, Emmett and Teller model) was used to determine the eutectic points of two quaternary systems: LiNO3+NaNO3+Ca(NO3)2+H2O y LiNO3+NH4NO3+Ca(NO3)2+H2O. The obtained chemical equilibrium model has been extended to predict the eutectic points of two quaternary systems: LiNO3+NaNO3+Ca(NO3)2+H2O and LiNO3+NH4NO3+Ca(NO3)2+H2O. The predicted melting temperatures are 15.9 ºC and 3.9 ºC, respectively. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the first quaternary system has a greater potential to be used as energy storage material in buildings and homes.