Energies (May 2024)

Heat Transfer Enhancements Assessment in Hot Water Generation with Phase Change Materials (PCMs): A Review

  • Diana Isabel Berrocal,
  • Juan Blandon Rodriguez,
  • Maria De Los Angeles Ortega Del Rosario,
  • Itamar Harris,
  • Arthur M. James Rivas

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102350
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17, no. 10
p. 2350

Abstract

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The utilization of phase change materials (PCMs) in solar water heating systems (SWHS) has undergone notable advancements, driven by a rising demand for systems delivering superior performance and efficiency. Extensive research suggests that enhancing heat transfer (HTE) in storage systems is crucial for achieving these improvements. This review employs a bibliometric analysis to track the evolution of HTE methods within this field. While current literature underscores the necessity for further exploration into hot water generation applications, several methodologies exhibit significant promise. Particularly, strategies such as fins, encapsulation, and porous media emerge as prominent HTE techniques, alongside nanofluids, which hold the potential for augmenting solar water heating systems. This review also identifies numerous unexplored techniques awaiting investigation, aiming to pave new paths in research and application within the field of hot water generation. It highlights methods that could be used independently or alongside predominantly used techniques.

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