Characterization and development of PCM-based thermal energy storage systems

近年来，全球对能源消费的需求呈现出快速增长的趋势，根据最近的估计，到2040年，这一需求预计将增长30%。尽管可再生能源技术取得了重大进展，但预计化石燃料仍将是满足这一能源需求的主要能源，这对气候和环境是有害的。热能储存是通过节能和增加可再生资源的整合来减轻这一影响的关键组成部分。它可以存储工业过程中产生的废热（主要来自化石资源），以及来自太阳能等可再生能源的热能，然后可以根据需要使用。因此，增强的存储容量、进出存储介质的有效热传递以及兼容性对于热存储系统的实际实施是极其重要和关键的。潜热蓄热与传统的显热蓄热相比具有几个关键优势，使其成为更合适的存储选择。然而，由于缺乏对基本热流体过程的理解，特别是在相变过程中，提高其热性能的努力受到阻碍。更好地了解和理解的基本物理过程，支配传热过程是必要的技术进步和大规模的实施/adaptation.The拟议的研究计划旨在推进相变过程中的基本传热过程的科学知识。该研究计划的长期目标是为节能和可持续性的实际工程应用开发创新和高效的蓄热系统。拟议的研究计划的短期目标是，1）进行详细的表征的热场和流场在相变过程中受到可变的几何参数，2）识别和调查的物理机制，影响传热过程，3）开始实施这方面的知识在实际应用中。拟议的研究将直接促进全球正在进行的节能和可持续性努力。这将导致更好地理解的物理机制或参数，影响传热过程中的相变。这种先进的知识将导致开发新的高效蓄热系统，用于各个领域的应用。这将为社会带来环境和经济效益，因为减少了化石资源的能源消耗，以及使用可再生能源的热系统的更高集成度，两者都将减少温室气体排放。

Global demand for energy consumption has shown a rapid growth in recent years and as per recent estimates, by 2040, this demand is expected to increase by 30%. Despite a substantial advancement of renewable technologies, fossil fuels have been predicted to remain the primary energy source to meet this energy demand, which is detrimental for the climate and environment. Thermal energy storage is a key component to mitigate this effect through energy conservation and increased integration of renewable resources. It allows to store waste heat produced in industrial processes (mainly from fossil resources), as well as thermal energy from renewable sources such as solar, that can then be used later on demand. Hence, the enhanced storage capacity, efficient heat transfer in and out of the storage medium and compatibility are of utmost importance and crucial for the practical implementation of thermal storage systems. The latent-heat thermal storage has several key advantages over the conventional sensible-heat storage, making it a more suitable storage option. However, efforts to advance their thermal performance are hampered by a lack of understanding of fundamental thermo-fluid processes particularly during the phase transition. A better knowledge and understanding of the underlying physical processes that govern the heat transfer process is necessary for the technological advancement and wide-scale implementation/adaptation.The proposed research program is aimed at advancing the scientific knowledge of the fundamental heat transfer process during the phase transition. The long-term objectives of this research program are to develop innovative and efficient thermal storage systems for practical engineering applications for energy conservation and sustainability. The short-term objectives of the proposed research program are, 1) to conduct a detailed characterization of the thermal field and flow field during the phase change subjected to variable geometric parameters, 2) to identify and investigate the physical mechanisms that influence the heat transfer process and, 3) to begin the implementation of this knowledge in practical applications. The proposed research will directly contribute to the ongoing global efforts towards energy conservation and sustainability. It will lead to a better understanding of the physical mechanisms or parameters that influence heat transfer process during the phase change. This advanced knowledge will then lead to the development of novel high efficiency thermal storage systems for applications in various sectors. This will result in environmental and economical benefits to society due to reduced consumption of energy from fossil-based resources as well as a higher integration of thermal systems using renewable energy, both of which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.