Nuku alofa phase change energy storage material

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 the selection criteria for thermal energy storage applications?

In particular, the melting point, thermal energy storage density and thermal conductivity of the organic, inorganic and eutectic phase change materials are the major selection criteria for various thermal energy storage applications with a wider operating temperature range.

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.

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.

What causes spontaneous heat loss from phase-change materials to cooler surroundings?

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. This prevents control over the thermal storage, and developing effective methods to address this problem has remained an elusive goal.

What types of organic phase change materials exhibit large latent heat and solid-liquid transitions?

Organic phase-change materials, such as low-cost paraffin waxes 8, fatty acids 9, 10, polyethylene glycols 11, and sugar alcohols 12, generally exhibit large latent heat and solid–liquid phase transitions, covering a wide range of melting and crystallization points 13.