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Phase Change Materials for Renewable Energy Storage at Intermediate Temperatures.
Karolina Matuszek1, Mega Kar1, Jennifer M Pringle2
1School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria3800, Australia.
Chemical Reviews
|November 23, 2022
Summary
Phase change materials (PCMs) for thermal energy storage between 100-220°C can stabilize renewable energy. This review explores viable PCMs for efficient, reliable, and cost-effective heat storage solutions.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Renewable Energy Engineering
- Thermodynamics
Background:
- Renewable energy sources like solar and wind are intermittent, necessitating effective energy storage solutions.
- Thermal energy storage (TES) using phase change materials (PCMs) offers a method to store heat, particularly useful for heat-based energy applications.
- Intermediate temperature ranges (100-220°C) are critical for integrating TES with renewable energy systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in TES materials for renewable energy applications.
- To analyze different classes of PCMs, their properties, and the structural basis for their thermal performance.
- To identify research gaps and future directions for developing large-scale, efficient, and reliable intermediate temperature TES technologies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent developments in phase change materials for thermal energy storage.
- Analysis of physicochemical properties of various PCM classes.
- Examination of chemical structures and their relation to thermal properties.
Main Results:
- A variety of PCMs exist for the 100-220°C range, but many lack practical viability due to stability and safety concerns.
- Understanding the chemical structure is key to optimizing thermal properties like high latent heat of fusion.
- Current research focuses on overcoming limitations for practical, large-scale applications.
Conclusions:
- Developing stable, safe, and cost-effective PCMs is crucial for widespread adoption of TES in renewable energy.
- Further research is needed to bridge the gap between laboratory findings and industrial-scale implementation.
- Optimized PCMs will enhance the reliability and efficiency of renewable energy integration.
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