Phase-change cold storage technology and its application in air conditioning systems

doi:10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2022.0498

Abstract

Abstract:

Energy storage is one of the critical supporting technologies to achieve the “dual carbon" goal. As a result of its ability to store and release energy and significantly increase energy utilization efficiency, phase-change energy storage is an essential tool for addressing the imbalance between energy supply and demand. As the demand for cold energy grows, phase-change cold storage technology is receiving a lot of attention from researchers. However, compared with the traditional phase-change thermal-storage technology, there are fewer review articles in this field. This study sorts out the basic working principle and characteristics of phase-change cold storage technology. It introduces different types and properties of phase-change materials applied to cold storage air conditioning systems and their advantages and disadvantages. The study also describes key technologies of phase-change cold storage, including critical technologies of physical property enhancement, heat transfer enhancement, and critical technologies of packaging and sizing. Furthermore, it analyzes different structures of cold storage devices (plate, sphere, spiral tube, shell, and tube) and applications in cold storage air conditioning technology. The applications of this technology in conventional cold storage air conditioning and cold chain transportation cold storage air conditioning systems are also summarized. Finally, this study summarizes and analyzes the current development status and prospects of cold storage technology. It highlights that the improvement of phase-change material performance, heat transfer enhancement of cold storage devices, improvement of COP, energy saving rate of an air conditioning system, and maintenance of long-term stable operation of the system are the focus of future research on cold storage air conditioning systems.

Key words: cold storage technology, phase-change materials, cold storage devices, air conditioning systems

CLC Number:

TK 02

Mu LI, Yaxi LI, Chuanchang LI. Phase-change cold storage technology and its application in air conditioning systems[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2023, 12(1): 180-197.

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[1]	Caimei YU, Xuelai ZHANG, Weisan HUA. Research progress of sodium sulfate decahydrate phase changematerial [J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2021, 10(3): 1016-1024.
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