High-temperature phase change materials for thermal energy storage

The development of energy saving technologies is very actual issue of present day. One of perspective directions in developing these technologies is the thermal energy storage in various industry branches. The review considers the modern state of art in investigations and developments of high-temperature phase change materials perspective for storage thermal and a solar energy in the range of temperatures from 120 to 1000 degrees C. The considerable quantity of mixes and compositions on the basis of fluorides, chlorides, hydroxides, nitrates, carbonates, vanadates, molybdates and other salts, and also metal alloys is given. Thermophysical properties of potential heat storage salt compositions and metal alloys are presented. Compatibility of heat storage materials (HSM) and constructional materials have found its reflection in the present work. Data on long-term characteristics of some HSMs in the course of repeated cycles of fusion and solidification are analyzed. Article considers also other problems which should be solved for creation of commercial high-temperature heat storage devices with use of phase change materials. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved