Practical strategies for the transportation and deployment of PCM thermal batteries with medium-temperature phase change materials
Date
2025
Authors
Lee, S.H.
Shao, Y.
Su, X.
Cui, T.
Saman, W.
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Report
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Abstract
This paper presents real-world insights and technical strategies for overcoming the logistical and operational challenges associated with transporting and deploying Phase Change Material (PCM) thermal batteries (TBs) that utilize salt-hydrate PCMs with melting points ranging from 10 to 60°C. These materials offer high energy density and compatibility with building HVAC systems but present significant handling constraints due to their sensitivity to temperature, phase stability, and mixing requirements. Drawing on field experience from the deployment of thirteen 1.3 m³ PCM-TB units (53~80 kWh each) across four sites in South Australia, this study evaluates four practical deployment strategies to address these challenges during the preparation, transport, and installation phases.
The approaches include: (1) on-site PCM mixing from raw components, (2) centralized factory mixing with heated transport, (3) the use of powdered or encapsulated PCMs for easier handling, and (4) modular PCM battery systems designed for simplified logistics and scalability. Each method is assessed against key criteria, including transportability, thermal performance, quality control, installation practicality, and scalability. The comparative analysis reveals key trade-offs between ease of deployment, energy efficiency, and reliability, offering actionable guidance for large-scale adoption of latent heat storage technologies in commercial, institutional, and district energy systems.