Classification and laboratory characterization of selected phase change materials for low-temperature thermal energy storage

The aim of this paper is to investigate and compare the thermodynamic characteristics and the heating and cooling behaviour of three phase change materials under conditions representative of practical operating conditions in hot water storage systems. Experimental measurements of temperature profiles, melting and solidification times, together with calculations of the absorbed and released heat, are used to identify the material that provides the optimal balance between efficiency, reliability, and practical applicability.