Phase Change Matters

Using CES Selector software, researchers in Spain have created a database of phase change materials to help engineers select the right PCM for thermal energy storage in buildings. More than 300 PCMs have been entered in the database, noting thermophysical properties such as melting temperature and melting enthalpy.

According to an abstract of the research reported in Volume 57 of Energy Procedia: "This database can be completed in the future with other relevant properties ... such as chemical properties (durability in different media etc), reported density or viscosity at a given temperature or even cost of each material."

The full report, "New database on phase change materials for thermal energy storage in buildings to help PCM selection," is available via ScienceDirect. 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876610214016166

The U.S. Defense Department has awarded NORESCO a $43 million energy savings performance contract for work at Fort Jackson, an Army training base in Columbia, S.C. The 22-year infrastructure project will focus on energy efficiency and water conservation. Improvements include a 2.4 million gallon thermal energy storage tank.

http://www.energyvortex.com/pages/headlinedetails.cfm?id=7087