Review on application of phase change material in water tanks

Abstract

Latent heat storage with phase change material is a superior way of storing thermal energy because of its high thermal storage density, isothermal nature of the storage process, and easy control. In recent years, latent heat storage systems have been increasingly used in building energy conservation, solar heating systems, and waste heat recovery systems. The water tank as a key component of solar heating systems has been widely applied in practical applications. This article first reviews the research on the water tank integrated with phase change material in terms of existing research methods and heat transfer enhancing technologies and then summarizes the applications of various phase change material–based water tanks. Finally, the further research suggestions on the phase change material–based water tank are proposed in this article. The successful completion of this review will not only deepen the understanding on the research development of phase change material–based water tank but also promote practical applications of such water tanks in solar heating systems.