Introductory Chapter: Nano-Enhanced Phase-Change Material

Abstract

1. Phase-change materials The consumption of any kind of energy has a significant role in protecting energy in the economic development of any country. Today, request in the sector has led to beautiful and large buildings around the world. It is noteworthy that buildings will spend about 30% of the worldwide energy produced. More energy demand for developing economies is projected; the lack of awareness about the pricing of fossil fuels and the increasing information about environmental problems has donated to the serious consideration of different renewable energies. Among different types of energy, heat transfer is universally observed in nature as geothermal energy and energy radiation in nature. This energy is a side effect of a large amount of energy production units and energy conversion products and systems. Energy storage may be maintained to maintain energy before energy use, or it can be used as a way to maintain calm in buildings, saving energy in different sectors of the society. An energy storage system should have certain features that include proper energy storage material with a specific melting temperature at the optimum range, decent heat transfer well, and pleasant enclosure compatible with the most important energy storage methods. Today, to reduce fossil fuel consumption in buildings, thermal energy storage systems should be employed to augment the efficiently. Figure 1 shows examples for the industrial and internal application of thermal energy storage systems (see [1, 2]). One of the advantages of utilizing thermal storage is that it can be consistent with supply [3]. 2. Techniques for energy storage 2.1 Latent heat Release or absorption of energy by changing the phase as gas to liquid or liquid to solid can be considered as the main reason for such way. 2.2 Sensible heat Energy is saved by increasing material temperature. Efficiency of thermal storage relies on temperature difference, specific heat, and amount of material. The best material in this view is water due to its low cost and great heat capacity.