Solar dryers with PCM as energy storage medium: A review

Using phase change material (PCM) as an energy storage medium is one of the most efficient ways of storing thermal energy. The latent heat storage provides much higher storage density than sensible heat storage, with a smaller temperature difference between storing and releasing heat. In addition, phase change materials provide constant and moderate temperature which is needed for drying most agriculture crops sufficiently. This paper reviews the previous work on solar drying systems which implemented the phase change material as an energy storage medium. It is concluded that the solar dryer with a PCM reduces the heat losses and improves the efficiency of the system. Furthermore, this review paper summarizes the previous methods that have been used for improving the thermal conductivity of the used phase change material particularly paraffin wax since it is commonly used as a storage medium in solar drying systems. It is inferred that carbon fibers, expanded graphite, graphite foam and high thermal conductive particles may improve the thermal efficiency of solar energy devices employing paraffin waxes as thermal energy storage media. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.