Phase-Change Media for CSP Thermal Energy Storage

Although their potential is great, much additional work is required prior to full-scale implementation of PCMs in CSP thermal storage. To begin with, researchers must address the substantial data gaps in the thermophysical properties of bulk PCM materials. Additional research, likely to include experimental studies, is required to fill these gaps. Perhaps more importantly, very few of the bulk PCMs presented here have clearly defined properties for their liquid state. Determination of molten PCM properties will likely require experimental study employing a methodology similar to that used to characterize these salts.

Perhaps because of the general uncertainty regarding these materials as thermal storage media, few actual PCM storage systems have been developed, though many have been proposed over the past few decades (Medrano, Gil et al. 2010).

Also, much research is required to develop and implement cascaded latent heat storage (CLHS). These systems will allow for greater utilization of the potential thermal storage capacity of PCMs, as illustrated below (PilkingtonSolarInternational 2000).

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