Phase change energy and heat storage method

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.

Can encapsulated phase change material be used for high-temperature thermal energy storage?

Macro-encapsulation of metallic phase change material using cylindrical-type ceramic containers for high-temperature thermal energy storage Numerical analysis of latent heat thermal energy storage using encapsulated phase change material for solar thermal power plant Cascaded latent heat storage for parabolic trough solar power plants

Can phase change material improve the thermal performance of LHS system?

However, the lower thermal conductivity of the phase change material (PCM) used in LHS system seriously weakens thermal energy charging and discharging rates. In order to improve the thermal performance of LHS system, a lot of research on performance enhancement have been carried out.

What is latent heat storage (LHS)?

Latent heat storage (LHS) is considered as the most promising technique for thermal energy storage, due to its high energy storage density and nearly constant working temperature. However, the lower thermal conductivity of the phase change material (PCM) used in LHS system seriously weakens thermal energy charging and discharging rates.

How does a PCM control the temperature of phase transition?

By controlling the temperature of phase transition, thermal energy can be stored in or released from the PCM efficiently. Figure 1 B is a schematic of a PCM storing heat from a heat source and transferring heat to a heat sink.

Can spatiotemporal phase change materials be used for solar thermal fuels?

In a recent issue of Angewandte Chemie, Chen et al. proposed a new concept of spatiotemporal phase change materials with high super-cooling to realize long-duration storage and intelligent release of latent heat, inspiring the design of advanced solar thermal fuels.