Performance enhancement of solar thermal systems using phase change materials- a review

Abstract

This article reviews the studies carried out with respect to the area of phase change material (PCM) coupled to solar thermal systems. Solar energy is a pure form of energy which could overcome the scarcity and ecological issues of conventional energy sources, but it requires energy storage and this stored energy is supplied to the systems for later use. The solar thermal storage system can improve the performance of a solar thermal application as the solar radiation varies throughout a day. Because of their high latent heat, PCMs offer the best alternative for thermal energy storage. PCM has the capability to hold more heat per unit capacity relative to conventional storage due to its latent heat form of storage. To enable a higher saturation of renewable energy sources and fulfil the demand, one possibility is to couple them with energy storage systems. Thus, the LHS material is used due to their heat storage ability. In this review focus is given to classification of PCM, their properties and their application in solar thermal systems.