A Review of the Performance Improvement Methods of Phase Change Materials: Application for the Heat Pump Heating System

Cong Zhou, Yizhen Li (), Fenghao Wang (), Zeyuan Wang, Qing Xia, Yuping Zhang, Jun Liu, Boyang Liu and Wanlong Cai
Additional contact information
Cong Zhou: Shannxi Zhongmei New Energy Co., Ltd., Xi’an 710054, China
Yizhen Li: School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Fenghao Wang: School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Zeyuan Wang: School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Qing Xia: School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Yuping Zhang: Key Laboratory of Coal Resources Exploration and Comprehensive Utilization, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xi’an 710021, China
Jun Liu: Key Laboratory of Coal Resources Exploration and Comprehensive Utilization, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xi’an 710021, China
Boyang Liu: Shannxi Zhongmei New Energy Co., Ltd., Xi’an 710054, China
Wanlong Cai: School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 6, 1-21

Abstract: With the development of the economy and society, energy problems have become a great concern. The heat pump-coupled thermal energy storage (TES) system is a potential form of building heating, which can improve the stability of the grid and promote the consumption of renewable energy. Phase change materials (PCMs) are widely used in the field of building heating, but there are still some problems such as unsatisfactory melting points, low thermal conductivity, phase separation, and supercooling, which limit the application of PCMs in heat pump heating systems. Therefore, it is very important to improve PCMs by a performance improvement method. This work first summarizes the classification, advantages and disadvantages of PCMs, and introduces the connection between PCMs and heat pumps. Then, a detailed summary of PCMs applied in heat pump heating systems is presented, and a comprehensive review of the performance improvement methods for PCMs, which include additives, encapsulation, and eutectic compounds, is discussed. Finally, the existing problems, solutions, and future research directions are proposed. The emphasis of the research is to clarify the influence of PCMs on heat pump performance and the effect of different performance improvement methods on PCMs, and to illustrate the future development direction for PCMs in heat pump heating technologies, including the matching of heat pumps and PCMs, multi-standard decision methods and advanced control strategies.

Keywords: thermal energy storage; phase change materials; heat pump heating system; performance improvement methods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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