Elena Palomo del Barrio (CIC energiGUNE), Jean-Luc Dauvergne (CIC energiGUNE), Ángel Serrano Casero (CIC energiGUNE), Stefania Doppiu (CIC energiGUNE)
To date, thermal energy storage (TES) systems have traditionally opted for solid-liquid PCMs because of their high latent heat. However, these materials require encapsulation which leads to a loss of energy storage density, reduced versatility and higher cost.
The authors of the present invention have found that the above-mentioned limitations of solid-liquid PCM leakage and energy density can be surprisingly solved by selecting a non-polymeric solid-solid PCM as the enclosing/supporting material. In addition to the enhanced heat capacity, the transition temperature of the composite PCM of the invention can be easily customized over a wide range of temperatures while can be prepared by very simple and cost-effective procedures. Beside the above advantages, the present invention allows the provision of TES within a poorly covered range of temperatures by current PCMs which make them especially attractive for TES applications at medium temperatures in industrial heat processes, where there is currently only a few PCM alternatives.
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