Page 58 - IJAMD-1-3

International Journal of AI for
Materials and Design
Phase change materials and digital twin technology in thermal energy

fluctuating temperatures and changing energy demands,
allowing for proactive adjustments that enhance energy
efficiency. Furthermore, DT improves control strategies
for heating and cooling applications, particularly within
building energy management systems. By integrating real-
time data, DT systems enable predictive maintenance,
identify system inefficiencies, and improve overall
operational reliability.
1.2. Contributions

The main contributions of this article are outlined below:
• A total of 89 research articles, including case studies,
review papers, experimental analyses, and letters,
were reviewed in the current study, sourced from
databases such as Science Direct, IEEE, MDPI, Wiley,
and Springer, among others.
• The present study describes TES as a versatile form
of renewable energy, utilizing materials that absorb
heat when heated and release it when cooled through
sensible heat, latent heat, and thermochemical energy. Figure 1. Structural flow diagram of the review
Abbreviation: PCM: Phase change material.
• A review of different PCMs is provided, focusing on
their classifications and selection criteria for regulating 2. TES
temperatures within a narrow range by releasing latent
heat during phase transitions. Energy storage systems work by transforming energy into
• Practical applications of various PCMs for cooling in a form that can be stored and made available when needed.
TES buildings are identified and discussed. One type of renewable energy storage system is the TES
• The role of DT technology in smart buildings is system, which uses materials that absorb heat when heated
explored, along with real-world examples of how DT and release it when cooled. The three primary forms of
is integrated into thermal storage systems to enhance TES are depicted in Figure 2.
the intelligence and functionality of buildings.
TES is widely used in buildings and modern energy
1.3. Scope and organization of the present article cycles, where it involves storing excess energy – typically
surplus energy from renewable sources or waste heat – to
The reviewed studies highlight the potential of PCM-TES be used later for heating, cooling, or power generation
systems as an innovative building technology capable purposes. To store thermal energy, TES systems use
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of significantly enhancing thermal efficiency and heat- or cold-storage media. The stored energy can then be
sustainability in the future. It is evident that further utilized to generate electricity for temperature regulation
research is needed to identify the optimal PCMs for systems. Heat can be stored through three main mechanisms:
different climate zones. The aim of this article is to provide sensible heat, latent heat (heat released or absorbed during
a concise overview of the role of PCMs and DT technology, phase transitions), and thermochemical energy (heat
their properties, and integration techniques, as well as to released or absorbed during chemical reactions). 40
examine their cooling applications in buildings through
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appropriate classification. The article is structured as Lin et al. emphasized that PCMs are essential for
follows: Section 1 offers a brief description of TES systems, improving the efficiency of TES systems due to their ability
PCMs, and DT technology; Section 2 outlines the methods to absorb and release large amounts of latent heat during
of TES, including sensible heat storage (SHS), latent phase transitions, typically between the solid and liquid
heat storage (LHS), and thermochemical energy storage states. In TES systems, PCMs are utilized to store thermal
systems; Section 3 describes the classification, selection energy during charging cycles, where heat is absorbed, and
criteria, and practical applications of PCMs in buildings; the material transitions to a liquid state, and to release this
Section 4 summarizes the integration of DT technology in stored energy during discharging cycles, when the material
smart buildings, along with real-world applications. A flow returns to its solid state. This process helps stabilize
diagram summarizing the structure of the current study is temperature fluctuations and promotes efficient energy
presented in Figure 1. storage over extended periods, making PCMs particularly

Volume 1 Issue 3 (2024) 52 doi: 10.36922/ijamd.4696