Nano-Enhanced Phase Change Materials in Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Systems: A Review

Latent heat thermal energy storage systems (LHTES) are useful for solar energy storage and many other applications, but there is an issue with phase change materials (PCMs) having low thermal conductivity. This can be enhanced with fins, metal foam, heat pipes, multiple PCMs, and nanoparticles (NPs)...

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Main Authors: Kassianne Tofani, Saeed Tiari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/13/3821
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author Kassianne Tofani
Saeed Tiari
author_facet Kassianne Tofani
Saeed Tiari
author_sort Kassianne Tofani
collection DOAJ
description Latent heat thermal energy storage systems (LHTES) are useful for solar energy storage and many other applications, but there is an issue with phase change materials (PCMs) having low thermal conductivity. This can be enhanced with fins, metal foam, heat pipes, multiple PCMs, and nanoparticles (NPs). This paper reviews nano-enhanced PCM (NePCM) alone and with additional enhancements. Low, middle, and high temperature PCM are classified, and the achievements and limitations of works are assessed. The review is categorized based upon enhancements: solely NPs, NPs and fins, NPs and heat pipes, NPs with highly conductive porous materials, NPs and multiple PCMs, and nano-encapsulated PCMs. Both experimental and numerical methods are considered, focusing on how well NPs enhanced the system. Generally, NPs have been proven to enhance PCM, with some types more effective than others. Middle and high temperatures are lacking compared to low temperature, as well as combined enhancement studies. Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, copper, and carbon are some of the most studied NP materials, and paraffin PCM is the most common by far. Some studies found NPs to be insignificant in comparison to other enhancements, but many others found them to be beneficial. This article also suggests future work for NePCM and LHTES systems.
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spelling doaj.art-3e11bec4d15c4cc6a1499c40dfb670dc2023-11-22T01:41:02ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-06-011413382110.3390/en14133821Nano-Enhanced Phase Change Materials in Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Systems: A ReviewKassianne Tofani0Saeed Tiari1Biomedical, Industrial and Systems Engineering Department, Gannon University, Erie, PA 16541, USABiomedical, Industrial and Systems Engineering Department, Gannon University, Erie, PA 16541, USALatent heat thermal energy storage systems (LHTES) are useful for solar energy storage and many other applications, but there is an issue with phase change materials (PCMs) having low thermal conductivity. This can be enhanced with fins, metal foam, heat pipes, multiple PCMs, and nanoparticles (NPs). This paper reviews nano-enhanced PCM (NePCM) alone and with additional enhancements. Low, middle, and high temperature PCM are classified, and the achievements and limitations of works are assessed. The review is categorized based upon enhancements: solely NPs, NPs and fins, NPs and heat pipes, NPs with highly conductive porous materials, NPs and multiple PCMs, and nano-encapsulated PCMs. Both experimental and numerical methods are considered, focusing on how well NPs enhanced the system. Generally, NPs have been proven to enhance PCM, with some types more effective than others. Middle and high temperatures are lacking compared to low temperature, as well as combined enhancement studies. Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, copper, and carbon are some of the most studied NP materials, and paraffin PCM is the most common by far. Some studies found NPs to be insignificant in comparison to other enhancements, but many others found them to be beneficial. This article also suggests future work for NePCM and LHTES systems.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/13/3821latent heat thermal energy storagephase change materialnanoparticlesnano-enhanced PCM
spellingShingle Kassianne Tofani
Saeed Tiari
Nano-Enhanced Phase Change Materials in Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Systems: A Review
Energies
latent heat thermal energy storage
phase change material
nanoparticles
nano-enhanced PCM
title Nano-Enhanced Phase Change Materials in Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Systems: A Review
title_full Nano-Enhanced Phase Change Materials in Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Systems: A Review
title_fullStr Nano-Enhanced Phase Change Materials in Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Systems: A Review
title_full_unstemmed Nano-Enhanced Phase Change Materials in Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Systems: A Review
title_short Nano-Enhanced Phase Change Materials in Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Systems: A Review
title_sort nano enhanced phase change materials in latent heat thermal energy storage systems a review
topic latent heat thermal energy storage
phase change material
nanoparticles
nano-enhanced PCM
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/13/3821
work_keys_str_mv AT kassiannetofani nanoenhancedphasechangematerialsinlatentheatthermalenergystoragesystemsareview
AT saeedtiari nanoenhancedphasechangematerialsinlatentheatthermalenergystoragesystemsareview