CELiMIN’s Thermal Energy Storage group performs the studies of different mineral reservoirs in northern Chile and waste or sub-products, obtained during their processing, as low-cost inorganic TES materials. The group works on the optimization of thermophysical properties of inorganic PCMs using nucleating and thickening agents, and has experience in using chemical and physical methods for macro and microencapsulation of inorganic PCM with plastic or metallic materials, or obtaining SS-PCM.

For the implementation of new inorganic materials in LATENT HEAT STORAGE systems, the group focuses on the following areas:

• Improvement of heating and cooling water storage tanks by the implementation of the encapsulated PCMs;
• Passive climate control and energy savings, applied in mining camps;
• Passive thermal management of Li-ion battery packs with composite inorganic PCMs.