Latent heat utilization approach and the role of phase change materials

Latent Heat Storage is one of the methods to store thermal energy other than Sensible heat storage and Thermo-chemical storage. In latent heat storage system, the Phase change materials (PCM) play the role of a medium for storing energy and releasing it when required. These materials store heat energy when they change from solid form to liquid form, from liquid form to gaseous form or from solid form to solid form (change of one crystalline form into another without a physical phase change). Then release that energy when they have the reverse phase changes.