METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STORING AND RELEASING HEAT BY MEANS OF A PHASE CHANGE MATERIAL

A method for storing and releasing heat by means of a phase change material. In said method, a phase change is caused in a first heat exchanging device (4) by supplying heat during a charging process in a storage medium comprising a phase change material in order to store the heat as latent heat in the storage medium, and a phase change is caused in the storage medium while heat is dissipated during a discharging process in the first or another heat exchanging device (2). The invention is characterized in that at least predominantly non-encapsulated phase change material is used as storage medium, the storage medium is fed to the first heat exchanging device (4) as a fluid stream or particle stream during the charging process and is discharged when the phase change has been completed, the storage medium is fed to the first or another heat exchanging device (2) as a fluid stream during the discharging process and is discharged from the heat exchanging device as a fluid stream or particle stream when the phase change has been completed, the storage medium is temporarily stored in a first storage tank (1) following the charging process and/or in the first or another storage tank (3) following the discharging process, and the storage medium is actively conveyed and heat is exchanged during the phase change as the charging process and/or the discharging process take/s place. An apparatus for storing and releasing heat by means of a phase change material is also provided.