Chapter 5 - Latent Thermal Energy Storage

Abstract

The quest toward the development of efficient thermal systems largely depends on energy intake, which has to be conserved at every step of the building design. The growing demand for energy-efficient thermal systems can be improvised through performing active research efforts pertaining to the energy redistribution in buildings. The incessant value-added engineering design of the cooling/heating systems from the scheme inception to the construction of the building structures is vital in distributing and achieving the peak load shaving and energy conservation on a long-term basis. Several systems exist for reducing the peak energy and electricity bills in building envelopes. From this perspective, the thermal energy storage systems offer a wide opportunity for acquiring the energy redistribution and energy savings potential at a more efficient way. In this context, latent thermal energy storage (LTES) systems utilizing phase change materials are a class of thermal storage systems that basically stores and releases thermal energy by virtue of the phase transition phenomenon. Thermal energy (cold or heat) can be stored and retrieved from such heat storage materials effectively by taking advantage of their high latent heat potential. The integration of the LTES systems can collectively contribute for achieving enhanced energy performance in the long term, which would take forward the new and the existing building to be highly energy efficient.