Thermal Storage Using Form-Stable Phase-Change Materials

This article presents an in-depth study that evaluates the feasibility of utilizing commercially available polysiloxane polymer to store energy in packed bed configurations in the 100--140 C (212--284 F) temperature range. The solid-solid phase transformation characteristics of the polymer in this temperature range and the corresponding latent heat of the phase-change have not been previously exploited for such packed bed thermal storage applications. The present study examines all important aspects of the storage concept, including the experimental characterization of the material, experimental demonstration of the storage unit, and analytical and numerical modeling of the system. The economic feasibility evaluation, and determining the thermodynamic and thermo-economic optimization are also considered but are reported elsewhere.