Various Uses - Phase Change Material

Phase Change Material PCM Applications & Uses

1. Telecom Shelters:

Telecom shelters are insulated, air-conditioned enclosures that house the heart of mobile communication, the Base Transceiver Station (BTS). BTS, and also the battery, is very temperature sensitive and its surroundings should always be maintained below 35 deg C. In under-developed countries, there are frequent power cuts and single phasing, forcing cellular service providers to install Diesel Generators to support the air-conditioner in case of power cuts or single phasing. Phase Change Material PCM installed in Telecom Shelter will absorb heat in case of unavailability of power, minimizing/eliminating use of DG Sets. PCM will get re-charged when power source is available. Thus, PCM store energy using a cheap source of power and release it when that cheap source of power is not available, thus saving on Diesel Cost.

2. Transportation:

Transportation of perishable foods, temperature sensitive pharmaceuticals, sundry electronics (like ignition transformers) and chemicals (explosives) require refrigerated trucks. Such refrigerated trucks are prohibitively expensive to operate as they use Diesel as a source of energy. Cost of diesel-generated energy is 6 times higher as compared to conventional electricity cost. Thus, Phase Change Material store energy using a cheap source of power and release it when that cheap source of power is not available.

3. Automobiles

PCM is already used today in a latent heat battery offered by BMW as optional equipment in its 5 series. The principle is quite simple, the storage material is connected to the radiator and stores excess heat when the motor runs at operating temperature. This heat is then available at the next cold start to heat up the motor quickly (better gas mileage) and for the interior (driving comfort). Due to the latent heat battery’s excellent insulation, it can maintain the energy for 2 days at an outside temperature of – 20 °C. As an extension to this application, PCM can also be used in tail-pipes (exhaust) of vehicles. This will maintain the catalytic converter at its design temperature, reducing excessive Hydro-carbon emissions during vehicle start up.

4. House heating, warm water:

Solar energy is not available at all times, and therefore solar installations require an intermediary storage of the energy for heating or warm water. PCM based system will offer the following benefits over a conventional system: Low volume in comparison to water storage systems and a higher efficiency due to a lower temperature difference between loading and discharging of the energy. Latent heat storage can also be implemented in conventional heating systems. Phase Change Material based solar water heater will also give a better controlled water temperature.

5. Construction materials:

The atmosphere in a room is found comfortable if it varies little in the course of the day. For this reason, homes with very thick walls are found especially comfortable: cool in the summer and warm in the winter. To achieve this comfort in less massive constructions, one can implement materials containing PCM and thus demonstrating the same properties as thick walls. By absorbing heat at the peaks (e.g. during sunshine) and delayed release in the night, in most cases one can even do without air conditioning.

6. Catering:

The transportation of warm meals requires a heat source; otherwise it will not meet the quality standards set by the consumers. An electric heating source cannot always be implemented, in such cases Phase Change Material offer an ideal, self-regulating heating element. The melting point of the PCM depends upon the temperature at which the food should be kept. 60° – 70°C are optimal so that the food does not continue to cook but is hot enough to eat.

7. Electronics:

Electronic circuitry is extremely sensitive to over-heating, negatively influencing both lifetime and reliability of the parts. To date, metal fins are used for heat sinking improving their cooling capacity with additional fans. The sinking of heat peaks using PCM is absolutely reliable since no motor or temperature measurements are required. The PCM regenerates itself between peaks by emitting the heat with cooling fins. The advantage is a smaller cooling system with a very high reliability.

8. Green Houses:

It is important to maintain temperatures in a small range to enable plants cultivated in a green house to flourish. However, due to large temperature swings in daytime and nighttime temperatures, most green houses need air-conditioning and/or heating. Phase Change Material installed in floor of such green houses will eliminate or reduce the dependence on air-conditioning/heating.

9. Temperature Peak Stabilization:

In the chemical industry, there are applications where refrigeration and heating are required in the same batch. In such cases, use of PCM will reduce utility costs, as PCM will store energy from the chemical reaction for use at a later stage in the same batch.

and counting…

PCM Energy P. Ltd
Mazgaon, Mumbai 400 010, INDIA
TEL: 91-22-23770100, 23774610, 23726950, 23723564. FAX: 91-22-23728264.

Email: anmol@pcmenergy.com

For a detailed write up on Thermal Salt visit our page Phase Change Material Products. It gives general information on all the products like T-series Salts18-29^oC; S-series Salts 32-48^oC. Hot & Cold Packs, Freezer Salts, “Your Choice PCM”, and Encapsulation are also addressed.

For a write up on Thermal Salt for general purpose like Green house Electronics, Electronics visit our page Phase Change Material - General Products like Green House & Electronic cooling. It covers most items with a little more details.

For a write up on Thermal Salt Free Air Conditioning & Heating by Day-Night equalization at a target of 23-24^oC, green House at 16^oC and Cold Storage-Shipment visit our page Natural Cooling - PCM AC. Backup

For a write up on Thermal Salt for Air Conditioning Back-up & Free-Cooling by Day-Night equalization in Telecom Shelter along with a Live-Site Trial, Elimination of Diesel Generator visit our page Telecom Shelters - PCM

For Encapsulation of PCMs visit our page PCM - Encapsulation

For Testing Methods, Conversion to BTU/^oF/lb etc. and Frequently Asked Questions visit our page Doctor Says

                PCM-based Telecom Shelters.                                Battery Jacket for Telecom Shelters.



                                               PCM filled Panels.                                               PCM filled SS Ball

Ammonium Chloride BP USP IP ACS AR & Food Grade

Zinc Chloride BP USP IP ACS AR

Potassium Chloride BP USP IP ACS AR & Food Grade

Calcium Chloride BP USP IP ACS AR & Food Grade

Sodium Acetate BP USP IP ACS AR & Food Grade

Sodium Thiosulfate or Sodium Thiosulphate BP USP IP ACS AR & Food Grade

Ammonium Sulphate or Ammonium Sulfate ACS AR & Food Grade

Manganese Chloride ACS & Food Grade

Magnesium chloride BP USP IP ACS Food

Calcium Carbonate BP USP IP ACS Food Grade

Calcium Hydroxide        Calcium Oxide        Calcium Sulfate        Chromic Chloride

Muby Chemicals : Zinc Chloride     Ammonium Chloride     Calcium Chloride      Potassium Chloride     Sodium Acetate      Sodium Thiosulphate