Exploring the potential and challenges of phase change materials in future heat storage systems via computations and experiments

Abstract

Abstract The current work describes computational and experimental efforts to enable new heat storage technologies. Approximately 50% of the energy consumed globally is used to generate and manage heat. This is still predominantly acquired from the combustion of fossil fuels, consequently generating just over 40% of the total global CO2 emissions. To achieve a sustainable future, there is a need for sustainable, decarbonised and dependable energy sources. Heat storage is a key technology that could help achieving this goal. Recently published work by the current authors has shown the importance of heat storage in decarbonising heating (and cooling) of buildings using phase change materials (PCMs). The black-box approach followed evaluated the energetic, cost, and environmental impacts of a novel concept PCM storage scheme with microgeneration. The results obtained showed that this system had advantages over current and future competing heating technologies. However, PCM technology remains at low technological readiness levels because of the lack of understanding of the complex heat transfer physics associated with their phase change transition. For example, understanding and characterizing the propagation of the solid-liquid front during charging and discharging in such heat storage modules will be important in predicting and optimising their performance. In the current work, computations have been performed to understand and optimise the effects of container geometry and size on the charging and discharging heat flux profiles of a simple heat storage module. Furthermore, fundamental experiments have also been implemented to identify the complex governing mechanisms of heat transfer and storage in such materials during transient operation.