Improving Cooling Efficiency Through Thermal Energy Storage
Enio P. BANDARRA FILHO, Muhammad FAROOQ, Gleyzer Martins
Abstract. This study shows the applicability of phase change materials (PCMs) focusing on storage thermal energy specifically applied for refrigeration systems. The main energy losses in refrigeration equipment operating intermittently are presented and discussed, as well as the key characteristics of PCMs: thickness, composition, and phase change temperature. Several experimental and numerical studies, presented in the literature, show reductions in temperature fluctuations, compressor start-up frequency, and energy consumption, leading to improvements in cooling capacity and the coefficient of performance of the system. The reported results show that, depending on the type of PCM material and the operating conditions, it is possible to achieve energy consumption reductions from 5% to 30% and COP improvements of up to 78%. In addition, the application of PCMs help extend compressor lifespan by reducing cycling frequency and provide good thermal inertia during power outages, improving the overall system reliability. Under these conditions, the use of PCMs emerges as an additional tool to enhance overall system efficiency and also contribute to sustainability, although challenges related to thermal conductivity, phase segregation, and cost still remain and need to be further investigated.
Keywords
Phase Change Material, PCM, Cooling, Losses, Consumption
Published online 4/25/2026, 9 pages
Copyright © 2026 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Enio P. BANDARRA FILHO, Muhammad FAROOQ, Gleyzer Martins, Improving Cooling Efficiency Through Thermal Energy Storage, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 64, pp 951-959, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644904091-118
The article was published as article 118 of the book Energy Futures
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
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