Phase change constant temperature energy storage

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 long-term stability of phase change material?

The long-term stability of phase change material is investigated by degradation experiments. Thermal cycling and ageing of materials at elevated temperature are applied. The change of melting enthalpy and characteristic temperatures are evaluated. Among erythritol, adipic acid, and myristic acid, the smallest degradation is observed for the latter.

Why do phase-change materials lose heat?

Phase-change materials offer state-of-the-art thermal storage due to high latent heat. However, spontaneous heat loss from thermally charged phase-change materials to cooler surroundings occurs due to the absence of a significant energy barrier for the liquid–solid transition.

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.

What determines the value of a phase change material?

The value of a phase change material is defined by its energy and power density—the total available storage capacity and the speed at which it can be accessed. These are influenced by material properties but cannot be defined with these properties alone.

Are phase change materials suitable for heating & cooling applications?

The research, design, and development (RD&D) for phase change materials have attracted great interest for both heating and cooling applications due to their considerable environmental-friendly nature and capability of storing a large amount of thermal energy in small volumes as widely studied through experiments [7, 8].