PCM Products General
PCM Products General
PCM Products General
ENERGY
STORAGE
natural
energy-saving
unique
Welcome to PCM:
REDUCED RUNNING COST -load shifting provides reliable operation and lower annual electricity/energy running costs
REDUCED MACHINERY -shifting some of the peak load may enable designers to reduce the main machine size
INCREASED CAPACITY -as a retrofit application, the additional TES load may increase the system output without any additional
machinery
GREEN SOLUTION -reduced machine size means reduced energy consumption, giving lower direct and indirect CO2 emissions
FLEXIBLE SYSTEM -the overall machinery capacity and TES capacity can be exactly matched to system loads
STAND-BY CAPACITY -incase the main machinery fails, the stored energy can be utilised to handle the system loads, thereby
providing a degree of back-up facility
Phase Change Materials, commonly referred to as PCMs, are products that store and release thermal
energy during the processes of melting and freezing. Phase Change Materials release large amounts of
energy upon freezing in the form of latent heat but absorb equal amounts of energy from the
immediate environment upon melting. This enables thermal energy storage; heat or coolness being stored
from one process or period of time and used at a later point in time or transferred to a different location.
PCMs can also be used to provide thermal barriers or insulation, particularly useful for
industry sectors such as temperature-controlled transport.
Interestingly, the simplest, cheapest and most effective Phase Change Material is water/ice. Unfortunately, its freezing
point of 0˚C (+32˚F) precludes it from the majority of energy storage applications. However, a number of alterative Phase
Change Materials have been identified and developed that freeze and melt like water/ice, but at temperatures from the
cryogenic range to several hundred degrees centigrade.
The PlusICE range is arranged into four categories;
Eutectics, solutions of salt in water with a phase change
temperature below 0˚C (+32˚F)
Salt Hydrates, specific salts able to incorporate water of
crystallisation during the freezing process, normally above
0˚C (+32˚F)
Organic Materials, which tend to be polymers
composed primarily of carbon and hydrogen. These mostly
change phase above 0˚C (+32˚F) and can be as simple as
coconut oil, waxes or fatty acids.
Solid-Solid Materials, They have no visible change in the
appearance of the PCM (other than a slight expansion/
contraction) during phase change and therefore overcome all
problems associated with handling liquids, i.e. containment,
potential leakage, etc.
Applications - Buildings:
Passive Furniture / Data Safe Cooling: We have many licencees using our
PCMs have been introduced into fabrics used in
furniture production and even bed-sheets to PlusICE product range, either as raw
achieve optimum comfort. Data safety boxes may material or manufactured product.
stand the fire but the heat generated by the fire
renders the data useless and by using PCM to
Some of the applications are initiated
keep the content of the safe below upper by our organisation, but the majority
temperature limit for 4~6 hours provides enough of non-standard applications come
time for the fire fighters to rescue the safety box and save the data files
inside the safe. from the minds of the end-user or
Human Comfort & Body Cooling: developer.
This technology has finally made it into ‘ice
jackets’, used by firefighters and operatives in
uncomfortable working Our technical team prides itself on
environments. In taking customer ideas from concept
another application,
PCM based cooling to completion.
cushions have been
incorporated into prosthetic breast implants to
contain excess heat generated by the chest wall.
PCM’s are also used in cushions for wheelchair users to protect and
overcome hotspots.
Formula-1 Applications:
Following the Malaysian Grand Prix we had two weeks to design and
produce a product geared to improving driver comfort throughout the
race. The problem had arisen due to extreme high temperatures
during the race causing the rehydration bottle to become so hot that it
was unusable. Prior to the next Grand Prix, the car was equipped with
water bottles encased in PCM ensuring that the driver did not become
dehydrated. PCM’s are also applied to stabilise the fuel tank
temperatures as part of the fuel management.
Unit 32, Mere View Industrial Estate, Yaxley, Cambridgeshire, PE7 3HS, United Kingdom.
Telephone: +44-(0) 1733 245511
Facsmile: +44-(0) 1733 243344
Email: [email protected]
www.pcmproducts.net