Discussion on phase change energy storage materials

Are phase change materials useful for thermal energy storage?

As evident from the literature, development of phase change materials is one of the most active research fields for thermal energy storage with higher efficiency. This review focuses on the application of various phase change materials based on their thermophysical properties.

What are phase change materials (PCMs) for thermal energy storage applications?

Fig. 1. Bibliometric analysis of (a) journal publications and (b) the patents, related to PCMs for thermal energy storage applications. The materials used for latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) are called Phase Change Materials (PCMs) .

Is phase change storage a good energy storage solution?

Therefore, compared to sensible heat storage, phase change storage offers advantages such as higher energy density, greater flexibility, and temperature stability, making it a widely promising energy storage solution.

What are the applications of phase change materials?

Major applications of phase change materials The application of energy storage with phase change is not limited to solar energy heating and cooling but has also been considered in other applications as discussed in the following sections. 4.1.

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.

How much research has been done on phase change materials?

A thorough literature survey on the phase change materials for TES using Web of Science led to more than 4300 research publications on the fundamental science/chemistry of the materials, components, systems, applications, developments and so on, during the past 25 years.