German inorganic phase change energy storage

Are phase change materials suitable for thermal energy storage?

Phase change materials are promising for thermal energy storage yet their practical potential is challenging to assess. Here, using an analogy with batteries, Woods et al. use the thermal rate capability and Ragone plots to evaluate trade-offs in energy storage density and power density in thermal storage devices.

Are inorganic phase change materials better than organic?

Inorganic phase change materials have double the heat storage capacity per unit volume compared to organic materials, as shown in Table 1. They also have higher thermal conductivity, higher operating temperatures, and lower costs. These advantages make inorganic phase change materials more effective than organic ones.

Are inorganic phase change materials suitable for building integration?

Summary and conclusions In this review work, inorganic phase change materials (iPCMs) have been discussed with their properties and key performance indicators for building integration. The selection of these iPCMs mainly depends on thermophysical properties, mechanical properties soundness during phase transition and compatibility.

What are inorganic phase change materials?

Inorganic phase change materials The family of iPCMs generally includes the salts, salt hydrates and metallics.

Are inorganic PCMs a good choice for thermal energy storage?

Although inorganic PCMs have relatively higher thermal conductivity (up to about 1 W/m-K) than pure organic PCMs, the thermal conductivity is still unacceptably low in many thermal energy storage systems, making it a challenge for their applications.

Are inorganic phase change materials suitable for high temperature latent heat storage?

Inorganic phase change materials have advantages for high temperature latent heat storage, but there are challenges (discussed throughout the article) that need to be addressed in future work. Despite this, they are a suitable option.