A comprehensive review of latent heat energy storage for various applications: an alternate to store solar thermal energy

As the renewable energy culture grows, so does the demand for renewable energy production. The peak in demand is mainly due to the rise in fossil fuel prices and the harmful impact of fossil fuels on the environment. Among all renewable energy sources, solar energy is one of the cleanest, most abundant, and highest potential renewable energy sources. However, solar energy has some limitations, such as its intermittent nature and availability only on sunny days. Thus, the need for energy storage is realized and results in sensible and latent heat energy storage being used. Latent heat energy storage (LHES) offers high storage density and an isothermal condition for a low- to medium-temperature range compared to sensible heat storage. The work presented here provides a comprehensive review of the design, development, and application of latent heat energy storage. It is found that choosing a phase change material and its properties is the first stage of development. In the next phase, numerical and experimental investigations of performance estimation are reviewed. Further, performance enhancement techniques are found to be an effective practice to get better results. Finally, findings are categorized based on the application of LHES. The objective is to explore and present the potential of LHES to store solar heat. Thus, this review serves as the guidelines for the design and development of LHES.