Phase change material energy storage device

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.

Which phase change materials are used for cold energy storage?

Phase change materials for cold energy storage TES is divided into latent heat storage, sensible heat storage, and chemical storage (see Fig. 1) . The latent heat TES, which takes advantage of the large energy density of PCMs, is proven to be effective for storage.

What is thermal management using phase change materials (PCMs)?

Thermal management using phase change materials (PCMs) is a promising solution for cooling and energy storage 7, 8, where the PCM offers the ability to store or release the latent heat of the material.

Can PCM be used in thermal energy storage?

We also identify future research opportunities for PCM in thermal energy storage. Solid-liquid phase change materials (PCMs) have been studied for decades, with application to thermal management and energy storage due to the large latent heat with a relatively low temperature or volume change.

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.

Can phase change materials mitigate intermittency issues of wind and solar energy?

Article link copied! 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 issues of wind and solar energy.