Constant temperature energy storage

How can thermal energy be stored?

The storage of thermal energy is possible by changing the temperature of the storage medium by heating or cooling it. This allows the stored energy to be used at a later stage for various purposes (heating and cooling, waste heat recovery or power generation) in both buildings and industrial processes.

What is a thermal energy storage system?

Renewable energy generation is inherently variable. For example, solar energy shows seasonal (summer–winter), daily (day–night), and hourly (clouds) variations. Thermal energy storage (TES) systems correct this mismatch between the supply and demand of the thermal energy.

What are the different methods of thermal energy storage?

The article presents different methods of thermal energy storage including sensible heat storage, latent heat storage and thermochemical energy storage, focusing mainly on phase change materials (PCMs) as a form of suitable solution for energy utilisation to fill the gap between demand and supply to improve the energy efficiency of a system.

Why is thermal energy storage a key cross-sectional technology?

Thermal energy storage (TES) systems correct this mismatch between the supply and demand of the thermal energy. Hence, TES is a key cross-sectional technology with growing present and future importance for utilizing volatile renewable sources (e.g., wind and photovoltaics) and energy efficiency improvements.

Are phase change materials suitable for thermal energy storage?

Phase change materials (PCMs) having a large latent heat during solid-liquid phase transition are promising for thermal energy storage applications. However, the relatively low thermal conductivity of the majority of promising PCMs (<10 W/ (m ⋅ K)) limits the power density and overall storage efficiency.

What is the importance of energy storage?

In this regard, the importance of energy storage was investigated, and it was explained how though utilising different technologies, thermal energy can be absorbed and stored for a later use. In particular, thermal energy including sensible heat storage, latent heat storage and thermochemical energy storage systems were thoroughly analysed.