Controllable heat release of supercooled Erythritol-based phase change materials for long-term thermal energy storage

Abstract

Transeasonal heat storage in organic phase change materials (PCMs) present a promising solution to the intermittent nature of renewable energy. However, PCMs are prone to spontaneous crystallization during storage, leading to the loss of stored latent heat in low-temperature environments. In this study, we incorporated tetrasodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA-4Na) and superabsorbent polymer (SAP) to erythritol (ERY), referred to as EES-PCMs, to overcome these challenges and achieve more controllable and stable thermal energy storage. The incorporation of EDTA-4Na and SAP into ERY significantly improves the supercooling stability and phase change enthalpy. The optimal ratio (EES-PCMs-2) of phase change enthalpy reaches an impressive 286.62 J/g, with stable performance maintained for 120 days at room temperature. The EES-PCMs-2 exhibits exceptional thermal cycling stability, retaining its properties even after 100 cycles. A novel air-triggered crystallization method is demonstrated, enabling a temperature increase from room temperature to 48.21 °C in 320 s after being exposed to air for long-term storage. This innovative approach effectively overcomes the limitations of traditional triggering mechanisms, providing a straightforward and efficient method for thermal management. The high thermal storage capacity, stability, and controlled exothermic properties of EES-PCMs position them as promising candidates for applications in seasonal solar thermal energy storage.