Recent development on heat transfer and various applications of phase-change materials

Energy storage potential analysis of phase change material (PCM) energy storage units based on tunnel lining ground heat exchangers

Effect of structural characteristics and surface functional groups of biochar on thermal properties of different organic phase change materials: Dominant encapsulation mechanisms

Practical applications of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) often require their encapsulation in other materials, such as metals or plastics. This raises the issue of compatibility between PCMs and encapsulating materials, which has still not been sufficiently addressed. The study presented here follows existing research and provides experimental evaluation of the suitability of selected PCMs for proposed integration in building structures. Two organic PCMs, two inorganic PCMs and three representative plastics (polypropylene (PP-H), high density polyethylene (PE-HD) and polyvinylchloride (PVC-U)) were selected for compatibility tests. Evaluation of the results is based on the mass variations of the plastic samples during the test period. Plastic samples were immersed in PCMs and subjected to periodic heating and cooling (for 16 weeks) in a small environmental chamber simulating real operational conditions. The results show that the organic PCMs have a greater ability to penetrate the PE-HD and PP-H compared with the inorganic PCMs. The penetration of all PCMs was most notable during the first four weeks of the experiment. Later it slowed down significantly. Overall, the mass changes in PE-HD and PP-H samples did not exceed 6.9% when immersed in organic PCMs and 1.8% in inorganic PCMs. PVC-U samples exhibited almost negligible (less than 0.1%) mass variation in all cases.

Heat transfer study of phase change materials with graphene nano particle for thermal energy storage

Experimental study of melting and solidification of PCM in a triplex tube heat exchanger with fins

Phase change materials (PCMs) have emerged as an innovative solution in thermal energy storage and thermal management systems (TMS) owing to their outstanding latent heat of fusion during the phase change process. This study is especially addressed to the battery TMS based on Organic PCMs for fast charging/discharging applications of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). These fast processes generate excessive heat during operation, degrade battery performance, decrease energy efficiency, and reduce the lifespan and safety of batteries. Organic PCMs exhibit desirable properties, including high latent heat capacity, good thermal characteristics, low cost, and ease of integration. The major challenge for the successful application of organic PCM comprises its low thermal conductivity, which impacts the heat storage and release rates. PCM-based Paraffin Wax (PW) has been designed by including expanded graphite (EG) as a high thermal conductivity additive in high latent heat of paraffin wax. Experiments focused on the effects of heating methods (microwaves/S-type EG composition and conventional electric oven/S′-type EG composition) of expandable graphite on the thermophysical properties of different PW/EG composites. The crystal and chemical structure of the study samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy. The battery module created with PW/EG composites were ample examined using charging/discharging experiments at five different C-rates. The effect of current rates on battery surface temperature is investigated in two cases: with PCM cooling and with air cooling. A 20.43% decrease in battery temperature is found at 5C rate with PCM cooling and a maximum reduction in battery charging time of 43.77%.

The research was investigated Turkey Berries drying capability using Active Mode Indirect Solar Dryers at Kovaipudur in Coimbatore, India. The conic-shaped Thermal Energy Storage (TES) covered the solar collector selectively and photovoltaic (PV) panels used to power divergent ducts equipped with DC blowers to enhance the AMISD. An energy analysis revealed meaningful distinctions between the AMISD systems equipped with TES and those operated without TES. The implementation of Thermal Energy Storage brought about a 89.6% collector efficiency rate that exceeded the results commonly reported in related PCM-based solar drying platforms. The proposed combination of a conic-shaped PCM module and a PV-powered diverging duct serves as the main cause behind this performance gain by supporting heat retention and enhancing airflow distribution. The solar dryers achieved better overall efficiency when using TES because they reached 15.23% efficiency compared to 14.8% without TES. The TES system increased the Energy Utilization Ratio up to 29.31 from its initial value of 28. Without TES AMISD used 1384 W of energy but with the implementation of TES it only needed 1268 W to function properly. The information about energy output demonstrates TES produces maximum energy consumption efficiency both with and without Phase Change Material (PCM). The PCM integration in the Specific Collector Area (SAC) improved its energy efficiency from 6.84 to 7.1%. The Sustainability Index scores achieved 8.1 when PCM was included in the experiments while the baseline scores remained at 8.01 without PCM application. Regardless of positive findings the actual experimental data fell short of projecting greenhouse dryer service expectancy to last for 35 years. The study demonstrates that using AMISD with PCM works effectively with improved energy performance while diminishing environmental influence and decreasing operational costs. Based on present circumstances in the region Turkey Berries drying with these specifications appears feasible and sustainable.

A is an important physical identity of any material. Pure materials undergo phase transition when the heat is absorbed or released at a constant temperature known as melting or boiling point temperature. This phase transition is associated with heat, which researchers are trying to exploit in multiple ways for different applications. The temperature range for these applications is such that selected materials undergo a phase change. Thus, their latent heat comes into play. There are various applications of these phase change materials (PCMs) from low-temperature passive heating/cooling and thermal management to high-temperature storage for solar thermal systems. PCM implementation requires knowledge of their types, properties, thermal characterization procedure, and property enhancement techniques, to map their suitability for a particular application. An assessment follows their implementation. There are different models for simulating the phase change process for different configurations, for assessing the impact of PCM incorporation. PCM caters to a vast arena of thermal applications and is used for either to enhance thermal cooling performance or to enhance thermal efficiency by wisely exploiting the energy storage potential. Here, we present mathematical modeling and different computational approaches for studying PCM-based systems. The general and most preferred practices in PCMs are discussed along with the different approaches of handling computational grids. Various methods based on discerning the energy equations are discussed along with phase field and volume of fluid methods. Also, the sophisticated commercial/research-based tools available for modeling the phase change materials are detailed. Such a comprehensive overview will be helpful for researchers/engineers looking to realize PCM, especially for energy and building applications.The later part of the chapter provides a comprehensive review of PCMs, followed by a detailed description of various applications and research prospects. This study discusses both heating and cooling applications of PCMs. PCM implementation in buildings can result in energy savings of up to 30%. PCMs application for thermal regulation of batteries, electronic circuits, and photovoltaic module are also discussed. Heat transfer enhancement techniques required to increase PCM dispatch ability, with suitable case studies, have been discussed in detail. The application of PCM in wearable devices to sustain extreme temperatures is still uncharted and can prove to be handy for thermal management and providing sustainable solutions. PCM implementation for solar thermal applications as high-temperature storage material has been discussed in this present study. In summary, this chapter provides a holistic review of different PCM applications and their modeling. It highlights the research, required to be carried out to overcome the shortcomings of PCM implementation to form a feasible solution for various problems. This study also highlights the importance of PCMs in energy conservation, thus contributing to a reduction in CO2 emissions and climate change.

What about greener phase change materials? A review on biobased phase change materials for thermal energy storage applications

Three-dimensional oscillating heat pipes with novel structure for latent heat thermal energy storage application

Review on thermal conductivity enhancement, thermal properties and applications of phase change materials in thermal energy storage

An overview of recent literature on the micro- and nano-encapsulation of metallic phase-change materials (PCMs) is presented in this review to facilitate an understanding of the basic knowledge, selection criteria, and classification of commonly used PCMs for thermal energy storage (TES). Metals and alloys with high thermal conductivity can be used as PCMs for rapid heat storage in compact systems owing to their high volumetric TES density. The emerging application of metal PCMs in different fields such as solar thermal energy management, smart wearable devices with thermal comfort control, and cooling of electronic devices call for the need of micro- and nano-TES particles, which can be synthesised in different forms to satisfy specific requirements. As metals are easily oxidised, especially at the micro- and nano-level, encapsulation of metal-based PCM particles is important for sustainable use at high operating temperature in ambient conditions. Recent studies focusing on the encapsulation of metallic PCMs at the micro- and nano-level have been reviewed and classified in terms of the melting point of metal/alloy PCMs used and types of encapsulation materials, such as oxides, polymers, carbon, and metals. The current review is expected to provide an outlook on novel metal and alloy PCMs with function-directed structures and superior TES properties for a broad range of applications.

Model and Simulation on Thermal Performance of Shape-Stabilized Phase Change Material Floor

Influence of PCM thermal conductivity and HTF velocity during solidification of PCM through the free cooling concept – A parametric study

The efficient utilization of solar energy technology is significantly enhanced by the application of energy storage, which plays an essential role. Nowadays, a wide variety of applications deal with energy storage. Due to the intermittent nature of solar radiation, phase change materials are excellent options for use in several types of solar energy systems. This overview of the relevant literature thoroughly discusses the applications of phase change materials, including solar collectors, solar stills, solar ponds, solar air heaters, and solar chimneys. Despite the complexity of their availability and high costs, phase change materials are utilized in the majority of solar energy techniques because of the considerable technical improvements they provide. While numerous studies have investigated the progress of phase change materials used in solar energy applications such as photovoltaic systems, it is vital to understand the conceptual knowledge of employing phase change materials in various types of solar thermal energy systems. Investigations into the use of phase change materials in solar applications for the purpose of storing thermal energy are still being carried out to upgrade the overall performance. This paper briefly reviews recently published studies between 2016 and 2023 that utilized phase change materials as thermal energy storage in different solar energy systems by collecting more than 74 examples from the open literature. This study focuses on demonstrating the maturity of phase change materials and their integration into solar energy applications. Based on the findings, proposals for new research projects are made.