Reviewing the Exergy Analysis of Solar Thermal Systems Integrated with Phase Change Materials

Abstract

The application of thermal storage materials in solar systems involves materials that utilize sensible heat energy, thermo-chemical reactions or phase change materials, such as hydrated salts, fatty acids paraffin and non-paraffin like glycerol. This article reviews the various exergy approaches that were applied for several solar systems including hybrid solar water heating, solar still, solar space heating, solar dryers/heaters and solar cooking systems. In fact, exergy balance was applied for the different components of the studied system with a particular attention given to the determination of the exergy efficiency and the calculation of the exergy during charging and discharging periods. The influence of the system configuration and heat transfer fluid was also emphasized. This review shows that not always the second law of thermodynamics was applied appropriately during modeling, such as how to consider heat charging and discharging periods of the tested phase change material. Accordingly, the possibility of providing with inappropriate or not complete results, was pointed.

Fabrication of Organic Shape-stabilized Phase Change Material and Its Energy Storage Applications

“…[6] In addition, as the core working substances, PCMs are promising for its potentials in both cooling and heating with its capability to store and release thermal energy with constant temperature. [7] Therefore, PCMs have attracted most attention and been used in various practical occasions such as water heating, [8] data center cooling, [9] building comfort, [10] thermal management, [11] energy storage. [12] The classification of normal used PCMs are illustrated in Fig.…”

Thermal Energy Storage Performance of Tetrabutylammonium Acrylate Hydrate as Phase Change Materials

“…Phase Change Materials (PCMs) can be a competitive system for thermal energy storage because they can also utilize latent heat, which has a higher energy density [12][13][14][15][16]. Organic compounds and water are representative examples of PCMs for DC cooling.…”

Experimental Analysis of Nucleation Triggering in a Thermal Energy Storage Based on Xylitol Used in a Portable Solar Box Cooker

“…One way to compensate for this intermittence would be to store the excess of thermal energy converted from solar energy, in order to use it when solar radiation is absent. In recent years, there has been an ever-growing interest in studying new methods for storing energy, such as thermal, electrical, chemical and mechanical energy storages [4][5][6]. Thermal energy storages (TESs), in particular, can take advantage of either the sensible or the latent heat associated to the physical phase of specific substances, called heat storage materials (HSMs).…”