Phase Change Materials for Solar Energy Applications

The continuing growth in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the rise in fuel prices are the primary motivators in the wake of attempts to efficiently utilize diverse renewable energy resources. Direct solar radiation is regarded as amongst most potential energy resources in many regions of world. Solar energy is a renewable energy resource which may be used for a variety of purposes in present society. The successful utilization of solar energy necessitates the employment of a storage media capable of storing excess energy and then supplying this stored energy when needed. However, large-scale usage of this type of energy is merely viable if potential storage technology could be created having reasonable capital and operating costs. The use of phase change materials is one of the potential methods for storing solar energy (PCMs). Superior thermal characteristics of innovative materials, like phase change materials, are basically needed to maximize solar energy usage and to increase the energy and exergy efficiency of the solar absorption system. Because PCMs are isothermal in nature, they provide better density energy storage and the capacity to function across a wide temperature range. This chapter discusses the fundamentals of phase change materials (PCMs), how they function, thermal energy augmentation in PCMs, commercially accessible PCMs, and active and passive solar heating systems. This chapter presents a detailed study of PCMs usage for solar energy employment as well as storage like for solar power production, solar cookers along with water heating systems. The chapter would help researchers in better understanding on solar power production, water heating systems, and solar cookers employing PCMs for marketable growth.