Thermal High-Performance Storages for vehicle application

Abstract

Thermal energy storage systems offer energetic potentials concerning the usage in electric vehicles. For hybrid drive trains, thermal energy storages enable storing waste heat from primary energy converters such as combustion engines. During electric driving periods or after shutdown periods this heat can be returned to the vehicle. For pure electric vehicles thermal energy storage systems can also use waste heat from the charging process of the traction battery. Furthermore, a thermal preconditioning of the storage is possible which would cause an extended electric driving range and a higher driving comfort. The DLR Institute of Vehicle Concepts is focusing the use of new energy materials for the use in vehicle specific thermal storage systems, so called metallic Phase Change Materials (mPCM). By using these new materials, the main requirements on thermal storage systems for vehicle application, like a high specific energy density and a high thermal in- and output can be achieved.