What are phase change 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.

How do phase change materials absorb thermal energy?

Phase change materials absorb thermal energy as they melt, holding that energy until the material is again solidified. Better understanding the liquid state physics of this type of thermal storage may help accelerate technology development for the energy sector.

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.

Are phase change materials suitable for heating & cooling applications?

The research, design, and development (RD&D) for phase change materials have attracted great interest for both heating and cooling applications due to their considerable environmental-friendly nature and capability of storing a large amount of thermal energy in small volumes as widely studied through experiments [7, 8].

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.

How do we capitalize on phase change phenomena of materials for thermal storage?

To best capitalize on phase change phenomena of materials for thermal storage, material parameters, including molecular motion and entropy, must be mathematically described, so behavior and theoretical limits can be predicted.