Phase Change Materials
Phase Change Materials (PCM)
A phase change material (PCM) is a substance with a high heat of fusion which, melting and solidifying at a certain
temperature, is capable of storing and releasing large amounts of energy.
Heat is absorbed or released when the material changes from solid to liquid and vice versa; thus, PCMs are classified
as latent heat storage (LHS) units.
Or
Phase change materials (PCMs) are a class of thermo-responsive materials that can be utilized to trigger a phase
transition which gives them thermal energy storage capacity.
Major Classification of PCM
PCM
Inorganic Organic
Phase change dependent classification;
• PCMs undergoing relevant phase change are specified
by SS, SL and LG standing for solid-solid, solid-liquid
and liquid gas phase change, respectively.
• The final state of the material after solid-solid phase
change may either be solid or liquid.
• For example, during melting, paraffin undergoes
solid-solid phase change and then solid-liquid phase
change on behalf of latent heat and the final state is
liquid.
• While, polyurethane undergoes solid-solid phase
change on behalf of latent heat, but the final state
remains solid.
Inorganic PCMs
Early efforts in the development of latent heat storage materials used inorganic PCMs.
Inorganic PCMs are salt hydrates (MxNy·nH2O).
Inorganic compounds have been used in the past, especially water with its excellent latent
heat (more than 300 kJ/kg) compared to other organic PCMs.
Advantages Disadvantages
• Availability and low cost • Difficult to prevent incongruent melting.
• High volumetric latent heat storage capacity • Change of volume is very high.
• Sharp melting point • Super cooling can be a problem.
• High thermal conductivity
• High heat of fusion
• Non-flammable
• Sustainability
Organic PCMs
Hydrocarbons, primarily paraffins (CnH2n+2) , lipids and also sugar alcohols.
Organic PCMs are known and widely used for their various qualities which made them
even more valuable in components with higher latent heat storage.
Advantages
Disadvantages
• Freeze without much supercooling
• Low thermal conductivity in their solid state.
• Ability to melt congruently
• High heat transfer rates are required during the freezing
• Self nucleating properties
cycle.
• No segregation
• Volumetric latent heat storage capacity can be low.
• Chemically stable
• Flammable. This can be partially alleviated by
• Safe and non-reactive
specialized containment.
• Compatibility with conventional material of construction
Comparison : Organic & Inorganic PCMs
Organic Inorganic
• Shows corrosion
• No corrosiveness
• Not so thermally stable
• Chemical & thermal Stability
• High thermal conductivity
• Low thermal conductivity
• Phase Separation
• Inflammability
Properties of Phase Change Materials
Small vol. change & High thermal
small vapor pressure Conductivity
Thermodynamic
Properties
High latent heat of Suitable Phase
fusion change temperature
Complete Reversible
Non- toxic , non
freezing, melting flammable
Cycle
Chemical
Properties
Long term chemical
No corrosiveness
stability
Preserving
Agriculture Agriproducts
Thermotherapy,
Medical Drug delivery
Waste heat Thermal power
Thermal Energy recovery plants
Storage
Applications TES based Solar drier, solar
Solar water heating
E- Equipment Mobile towers,
Cooling transformers
Building Coating PMC on
applications walls of buildings
Basics of Phase Change Materials
VρL = P t where,
V = Volume of PCM
ρ = Density of PCM
L = Latent heat of fusion of PCM (per Mass)
P = Power absorbed, W
t = Time of power absorption, seconds
The above equation basically states that the heat storage capability of a
phase change material is proportional to the mass of the material and the
latent heat of the material.
In other words, to store a large amount of heat, there are two ways of doing it. We must have either a large mass of
PCM and/or a large latent heat. Because space is always an issue in most thermal applications, high latent heat is,
therefore, a very desirable property of a PCM material.
Other desirable properties are right melting temperature, high thermal conductivity and chemical stability.
Encapsulation Methods for PCMs
Most PCMs may not be used directly because of toxicity, leakage (liquid or gas state), low thermal conductivity etc.,
which means these shortcomings hinder the final application.
One of the most effective methods to address the leakage issues and enhance their shortcomings is the encapsulation
techniques.
Spray-drying
Pan -coating
Physical
Air-suspension
coating
Centrifugal
Encapsulation
extrusion
Techniques
Ionic gelation
Physio-chemi
cal Complex
coacervation
Sol-gel method
Chemical
Polymerization
Encapsulation
Advantages Disadvantages
• Protection from light, heat, moisture, and high • Micro and nanoencapsulation are complicated
oxygen concentration that might lead to to conduct, and macro encapsulation has lower
decomposition of PCMs. structure stability and fracture resistance.
• Prevent evaporation of volatile compounds • Needs standard selection procedure of PCMs
that harm the environment and users’ health. and shell materials.
• Cover unpleasant odors.
• Control the speeds of internal materials • Low thermal conductivity due to polymer used
release. as the shell
Applications
PCM in Buildings
The PCMs can be embedded inside walls or placed in
pellets inside rooms.
For example, macro encapsulated PCM boards and
cylinders can be installed suspended on ceilings.
Such systems are best suited in countries where the nights
are considerably colder than the days, such as in Saudi
Arabia.
During warm periods, these boards store energy due to hot air rising. The heat absorbed by the boards is released later
during cold periods, warming up the air.
PCM in Food And Beverages
PCMs are being used in the food sector, for transport of food
supplies as well as the preservation of prepared foods.
For example, using high-melting PCMs, such as RT70HC or
GR82 of Rubitherm, one can maintain cooked food from
cooling down.
PCM in Healthcare And Medical
Phase change materials can used in heat and cold therapy.
For example, PCMs can be used to maintain an exact
temperature on the skin, irrespective of whether the room is
cold or warm.
Heat packs are widely used for physical or therapeutic
applications.
