Temperature-history method for characterizing thermophysical properties of phase change materials: a critical review
摘要
Phase change materials are widely used for thermal energy storage media for different thermal energy storage applications ranging from building heating and cooling, transportation of heat-sensitive products, electronic cooling, solar water heaters, and waste heat recovery to concentrating solar power plants for their enhanced performance and efficiency. The precise measurement of thermophysical properties is essential for these phase change materials to design efficient thermal systems. The temperature-history (T-history) method has advantages over techniques like differential scanning calorimetry and differential thermal analysis, allowing for the evaluation of properties such as enthalpy, latent heat of fusion, solid and liquid phase specific heat, useful enthalpy in working temperature range, supercooling, and thermal stability. Despite its effectiveness, T-history remains laboratory-based, with no commercial system available, highlighting the need for advancements in experimental setups and analysis protocols since its inception.