Phase change materials and energy storage review

Can phase change materials be used in energy storage?

This paper reviews previous work on latent heat storage and provides an insight to recent efforts to develop new classes of phase change materials (PCMs) for use in energy storage. Three aspects have been the focus of this review: PCM materials, encapsulation and applications.

What are phase change materials (PCMs) for thermal energy storage applications?

Fig. 1. Bibliometric analysis of (a) journal publications and (b) the patents, related to PCMs for thermal energy storage applications. The materials used for latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) are called Phase Change Materials (PCMs) .

Can phase change materials reduce intermittency in thermal energy storage?

Thermal energy storage technologies utilizing phase change materials (PCMs) that melt in the intermediate temperature range, between 100 and 220 °C, have the potential to mitigate the intermittency...

Which materials are suitable for phase change storage?

The largest category of candidate materials for phase change energy storage includes esters, fatty acids, alcohols, and glycols. Abhat et al. and Buddhi and Sawhney have identified several of these organic materials suitable for energy storage.

What are phase change materials (PCM)?

Phase change materials (PCM) are 'Latent' heat storage materials. The thermal energy transfer occurs when a material changes from solid to liquid, or liquid to solid. This is called a change in state, or 'Phase'.

What are the applications of phase change materials?

Major applications of phase change materials The application of energy storage with phase change is not limited to solar energy heating and cooling but has also been considered in other applications as discussed in the following sections. 4.1.