The use of lipids as phase change materials for thermal energy storage

Phase change materials (PCMs) are substances capable of absorbing and releasing large amounts of thermal energy (heat or cold) as latent heat at constant temperature as they undergo a change in state of matter (phase transition), commonly, between solid and liquid phases. Since the late 1940s, researchers have recognized the potential for phase change materials to play an essential part in energy storage systems and the search for suitable substances has received increasing interest. Currently, the global PCM market is estimated to grow from $ 460 million in 2013 to approximately $ 1.15 billion by 2018. Fats, oils, and their derivatives are diverse in their structures and among the few renewable feedstocks available that have melting and enthalpy profiles among other properties comparable to those of commercial paraffin waxes currently used in PCM applications. This has led to the investigation of triglycerides, fatty acids, esters, alcohols, and other lipid‐based derivatives as potential PCMs and much research examining lipid‐based materials as PCMs has been published. This article gives a brief overview of phase change materials, highlights the various types of lipid substances examined for PCM applications, and suggests potential future areas of study.