Developments in the design optimization of cascaded PCM latent heat thermal energy storage units: a review
Mary Sally Kabasa, Saphina Biira, Kant E. Kanyarusoke
Abstract
ABSTRACT This paper reviews recent developments in designing and optimising cascaded Phase Change Material (PCM) Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage (LHTES) units. It highlights the need for efficient energy storage in renewable energy applications. It contributes to the debate on optimising such units by proposing a tailored approach to their design. The laws of thermodynamics, heat transfer, thermal energy storage and phase change theories underpin the discussions. The findings reveal that the factors influencing the performance of cascaded PCMs include the heat exchanger, PCM, and operational and environmental factors. Furthermore, cascaded PCMs participate differently in heat transfer processes, and their effects significantly vary with their proportions. It suggests exploiting this property to customise cascaded PCM LHTES designs to different applications’ distinct and unique thermal management needs by following a customised application-specific optimisation of PCM mass fractions. It explicitly challenges the conventional prescription of equal cascaded PCM mass proportions as a universal optimum. It suggests further research into the customised optimisation of cascaded PCM masses tailored to different applications, as well as more experimentation under real-world scenarios to validate the theoretical models.