Thermal Energy Storage - Introduction

Thermal Energy Storage - IntroductionThermal Energy Storage (later referred as TES) deals with the storing of energy by cooling, heating, melting, solidifying or vaporising a material, the energy becoming available as heat when the process is reversed.[1], [2]

Storage by causing a material to rise or lower in temperature is called sensible heat storage; its effectiveness depends on the specific heat of the material and, if volume is important, on the density of the storage material.

Storage by phase change - the transition from solid to liquid or from liquid to vapour with no change in temperature - is another mode of heat storage, known as latent heat storage. The specific heat of solidification/fusion or vaporisation and the temperature at which the phase change occurs are obviously of controlling importance. Both sensible and latent heat storage may occur in the same material.