What are the different types of solar thermal energy storage?

This paper reviews different types of solar thermal energy storage (sensible heat, latent heat, and thermochemical storage) for low- (40–120 °C) and medium-to-high-temperature (120–1000 °C) applications.

What are sensible heat storage materials?

Table 9.2 Sensible heat storage materials [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7] Solid sensible heat storage materials are one of the economical media to store thermal energy. These materials have been used in various solar energy applications for the past many years. The solid materials used in sensible thermal energy storage are as follows.

How is heat energy stored by the storage materials using sensible heat?

Amount of heat energy stored by the storage materials employing the sensible heat concept is determined by the specific heat capacity (C p) of the material used. The following equation describes the thermal energy stored by means of sensible heat: (1) Q = m C p Δ T

Why is thermal energy storage important?

In this perspective, thermal energy storage (TES) is essential in developing sustainable energy systems. Researchers examined thermochemical heat storage because of its benefits over sensible and latent heat storage systems, such as higher energy density and decreased heat loss.

What are the advantages of solar energy storage materials?

The better thermal conductivity, significant storage capacity, nonflammability, non-toxicity, and the lowest cost make these materials suitable for storing thermal energy in diverse solar applications such as solar power generation, solar cooking, desalination, and solar drying.

How does a storage material store heat energy?

The storage material's capacity to store heat energy is directly proportional to the specific heat (C p), volume, density, and the change in temperature of the material used for storage. Storage materials used for the sensible heat method can be classified on their physical state: liquid or solids . 2.1. Sensible heat storage in liquids