Applications of combined/hybrid use of heat pipe and phase change materials in energy storage and cooling systems: A recent review

Abstract

Phase change materials (PCMs) have huge potential for latent thermal energy storage, waste heat recovery, heating, and cooling systems, due to their excellent thermal storage properties. However, the low thermal conductivity is most significant problem related with the PCMs, which retards the heat transfer rate and limits their practical applications. Heat pipe (HP) is extensively used heat transferring device, due to their ability to transfer heat isothermally over small and large distances. This review focuses on the systems that use a combination of PCM and heat pipes to enhance thermal performance and efficiencies. Overall efficiency, heat storage and release rate of PCM is reported to greatly improve by the integration of HP. These hybrid systems also have shown to overwhelm the issues such as low thermal conductivity of PCM and overheating of heat pipes.