SOLAR THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THEM

The present invention relates to Solar Thermal energy storage phase change materials and methods of making and using them a high storage density in a relatively small volume, PClVTs should have a high melting enthalpy [kJ/kg] and a high density [kg/m3], i.e. a high volumetric melting enthalpy [kJ/m3].Here we consider Erythritol because of its excellent stability concerning the thermal cycling, i.e. a very high number of phase changes can he performed without a change of the materials characteristics. The stored heat is taken out of the PCM using copper fin producing latent heat.