Model for Analyzing the Thermal Behaviour and Performance Characteristics of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) for Thermal Energy Storage (TES) Applications

Thermal Energy Storage (TES) systems play a crucial role in improving the reliability of renewable energy technologies, with Phase Change Materials (PCMs) offering high latent heat storage and stable thermal performance. This study presents a numerical and analytical approach for evaluating the thermal behavior of paraffin, salt hydrate, and eutectic PCMs used in TES applications. Key properties such as latent heat capacity, phase transition temperature, thermal conductivity, and thermal cycling stability were analyzed using literature-based data and an enthalpy-based modeling technique. Results indicate that salt hydrates exhibit superior heat storage and conductivity but experience higher degradation, while eutectic PCMs provide balanced performance and improved stability. The numerical results closely align with experimental data, confirming the reliability of the developed model for TES design optimization.