Evolvement of Thermal Energy Storage Systems

Abstract

A world with constant and unhindered supply of power from thermal sources is a feasible possibility. It is left to us researcher to find out the most optimal way to collect and store energy in this form. This review work seeks for thermal storage materials and methods to promote harnessing the thermal component of renewable and abundant solar energy at Covenant University, Ogun state, in Nigeria. The efficient implementation of thermal renewable energy sources is still being faced by a few challenges such as storage and efficiency. The review seeks methods of incorporating cost effective and efficient thermal energy storage techniques into the University campus energy system. Such techniques can be in form of thermal energy storage materials such as LiNO3-NaCL containing 87 wt% of LiNO3 and 13 wt% of NaCL with latent heat capacity of 300 kJ/kg and melting temperature of 220 °C. This paper reviews the evolution as well as trends of thermal energy storage systems considering the sensible and latent heat storage materials. Results of previous researches are discussed and these include the thermal properties of various proposed heat storage and heat transfer materials such as the heat capacity, latent heat capacity, melting point, thermal conductivity and maximum temperature of stability. These results were reviewed for the two categories of storage materials considered namely: latent and sensible heat materials.