Thermal energy storage (TES) by using phase change materials (PCM) is an emerging field of study. Global warming, carbon emissions and very few resources left of oil and gas are very big incentives to focus on this theme. The main idea behind this is harnessing or controlling the heat during phase transition. This has been utilized in renewable energy systems, aeronautical systems, electronics, industrial and mainly in buildings. Modern technological advancements made it possible to use PCM at bigger levels to reduce energy costs. TES using PCM represents a versatile and efficient solution to enhance energy performance, reduce environmental impact, and promote sustainable development across various applications and industries.

This Research Topic focusses on the followings topics (but is not limited to them):
1. PCM selection and enhancing its compatibilities;
2. Improving thermal conductivity;
3. Overcoming cycling stability and durability;
4. Optimizing system integration and design;
5. Exploring novel applications and markets.

These can be achieved by applying numerous methods such as adding nanoparticles (single/combinations), adding fins, utilizing external pressure while storing energy, etc. Market research and industrial collaborations will also make a good contribution towards finding novel applications. Currently, there are few power plants working around the globe to produce electricity with these methods, and PCM is also being used in buildings in very cold and hot environments.

We will be mainly interested in heat transfer analysis of PCM for thermal energy storage systems using numerical, experimental or both techniques. Using nanoparticles for this purpose would be a plus. New mathematical models to study different materials in phase change would also be considered as a great contribution to our topic. New combinations of PCMs which would give us good performance in any specific application and finally geometry optimization and exploring new application for use of PCM utilizing thermal energy are also of interest, which will be helpful for cross disciplinary collaboration. Addressing these research challenges and problems will contribute to advancing the field of thermal energy storage using phase change materials, unlocking new opportunities for energy efficiency, sustainability, and resilience in diverse sectors and applications.

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Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering

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