Heat Transfer and Phase Change Materials for Thermal Energy Storage and Thermal Management Applications

储存来自可持续能源的热能（例如，太阳能）或回收工业过程中的废热在面临不断增长的能源需求和气候变化挑战的世界中具有非常重要的意义。此外，有效的热管理对于提高许多能源系统的效率和可靠性至关重要，例如蒸汽和燃气轮机、核反应堆以及海上石油和天然气生产系统中的海底管道。由于具有高的熔化潜热，相变材料（PCM）可以在熔化（或固化）过程中吸收（或释放）大量的热能，同时保持几乎恒定的温度。这些特征使得PCM在热能储存和热管理系统中具有吸引力。然而，相变材料的低导热性和过冷问题限制了其实际应用。

Storage of thermal energy from sustainable energy sources (e.g., solar) or recovery of waste heat in industrial processes has great importance in a world facing challenges of growing energy demand and climate change. Also, effective thermal management is critical for the improvement of efficiency and reliability of many energy systems, such as steam and gas turbines, nuclear reactors, and subsea pipelines in offshore oil and gas production systems. With a high latent heat of fusion, a phase change material (PCM) can absorb (or release) significant amounts of thermal energy during melting (or solidification) processes while it maintains a nearly constant temperature. These features make PCMs attractive in thermal energy storage and thermal management systems. However, the practical applications of PCMs have been limited due to the low thermal conductivity and subcooling problems.