Phase Change Materials for Thermal Energy Storage

Abstract

Energy storage systems can be classified into five different groups which are mechanical, chemical, biological, magnetic, and thermal energy storage systems (Dincer and Rosen 2010). Thermal energy storage (TES) systems have been being widely used to increase the thermal component effectiveness as well as large-scale switching. The materials used for latent heat TES are called as the phase change materials (PCMs) which provide isothermal thermal energy storage. In this chapter, the theoretical, numerical, and experimental procedures of the PCM analysis are explained with real-scale unit setup and feasibility assessments. The analytical model is also known as the theoretical model, and it helps to analyze the charging and discharging of PCMs under steady conditions.