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Solar Air Heaters (SAHs) are widely used to harness solar energy for various heating applications. Recent research aims to improve the ability to capture maximum irradiation, addressing the weather-dependent and intermittent nature of solar energy availability. The incorporation of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) in SAHs can improve the capacity to absorb the irradiation due to their high latent storage capacity. However, conventional PCMs often exhibit low thermal conductivity. Various enhancement techniques can improve the thermal conductivity of pure PCMs and enhance the system's performance. This review article explores single-pass and double-pass SAHs with Integrated Collector PCM Storage (IC-PCMS) systems and various techniques to enhance the thermal conductivity of PCMs. The findings are based on the detailed analysis of systems and provide quantitative results showing the performance improvements of PCM-integrated SAHs. The inclusion of PCM not only maximizes irradiation capture but also extends the duration of hot air availability during periods of uneven irradiation. Further, carbon-based nanocomposites and metal foams have shown the most significant improvements in the thermal conductivity of PCMs and thus enhance the system's performance. Future research should focus on optimization and economic analysis to commercialize these systems for various thermal applications.
Sharma et al. (Wed,) studied this question.