Phase change thermal energy storage materials

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 are phase change materials?

Phase change materials are substances that are able to absorb and store large amounts of thermal energy. The mechanism of PCMs for energy storage relies on the increased energy need of some materials to undergo phase transition.

What are phase change materials (PCMs)?

Phase change materials (PCMs) used for the storage of thermal energy as sensible and latent heat are an important class of modern materials which substantially contribute to the efficient use and conservation of waste heat and solar energy.

Why are phase change materials difficult to design?

Phase change materials (PCMs), which are commonly used in thermal energy storage applications, are difficult to design because they require excellent energy density and thermal transport, both of which are difficult to predict from simple physics-based models.

What are the non-equilibrium properties of phase change materials?

Among the various non-equilibrium properties relevant to phase change materials, thermal conductivity and supercooling are the most important. Thermal conductivity determines the thermal energy charge/discharge rate or the power output, in addition to the storage system architecture and boundary conditions.

Are functional phase change materials reversible?

Functional phase change materials (PCMs) capable of reversibly storing and releasing tremendous thermal energy during the isothermal phase change process have recently received tremendous attention...