Phase change material (PCM) is a substance that has the characteristic to regulate temperature by absorbing heat or thermal energy when its surrounding is relatively warm and releasing it back when the temperature drops to colder conditions and vice versa. The best example is ice. Ice has a single transition point of 0°C, meaning it melts when ambient temperatures rise above 0°C and freezes when temperatures fall below 0°C. Thermal energy or latent heat is absorbed or released without any change in temperature, and the PCM changes its phase from solid to liquid or liquid to solid. This single ability of PCM, when masterfully engineered, can be applicable to various real-world challenges, such as energy savings, energy efficiency, thermal comfort, temperature resiliency, and, most importantly, combatting climate change.

To understand more about PCM, heat should be explored.

Heat is energy. There are two types of heat: sensible heat and latent heat. Sensible heat is the amount of energy needed to increase or decrease the temperature of a substance without any change of phase. For example, heating water from room temperature (25°C) to 99°C will increase the temperature due to the heat absorbed by water, but there is no phase change until the temperature in the water reaches 100°C. This increase in temperature from room temperature to 99°C is what we call sensible heat. Latent heat is the amount of energy needed to change a substance phase from one state to another, such as liquid to solid or solid to liquid, without any changes in temperature. For example, freezing one litre of water. The temperature of one litre of water will not drop below 0°C until the entire litre of water changes its phase from liquid to solid while maintain a constant 0°C during that phase change process.

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There are three major types of PCMs: salt-based PCM, paraffin-based PCM, and organic-based PCM.

Salt-based PCM:

·       Low cost

·       High-to-low latent heat storage capacity

·       High thermal conductivity

·       Non-toxic

·       Some salt-based PCMs do not completely change the phase on each cycle, thus losing the ability to store their full latent heat capacity

·       Highly corrosive to metals, if leaked, and causes a safety concern

·       Requires supercooling (excessive cooling to much lower temperatures) to charge the PCM

Paraffin-based PCM:

·       Derived from petroleum-based materials

·       Non-corrosive to metal

·       Highly stable after numerous phase change cycles

·       No extreme cooling needed to charge the PCM

·       Cost is volatile based on petroleum market prices

·       Poses a safety issue, as it can be toxic since it is derived from petroleum-sources

Organic-based PCM:

·       Vegetable oils or fatty acids

·       Non-corrosive to metal

·       Non-toxic

·       Higher thermal stability and efficiency than salt and paraffin-based PCM

·       No extreme cooling needed to charge the PCM

·       Cheaper compared to paraffin-based PCM but higher compared to salt-based PCM

·       High lifespan without degradation in thermal and chemical stability

●     3EW PCM is a proprietary blend made from safe and environmentally friendly, medical-grade materials that are non-poisonous to humans or animals.

●     All ingredients are listed on the GRAS list (Generally Recognized As Safe by the FDA).

No. It is non-corrosive, as it is derived from plant-based oils and not salt-based materials.

No. It is non-toxic, as it derived from plant-based materials.

Yes, as it contains no petroleum or animal fat products.

It has been tested beyond a 10-year lifespan.

Yes, 100%.

It has been tested and engineered to tune -45°C to 33°C.

There are two precisely engineered and tested encapsulations to prevent leakage in extreme and rugged environment:

• 3EW Rack Heat Shield (3EW RHS)
• 3EW Tile Thermal Shield (3EW TTS)

The 3EW Rack Heat Shield is a state-of-the-art polymeric shell containing 3EW PCM. A melt/freeze transition temperature ensures optimal heat absorption and temperature control performance. This 3EW PCM product is ideal for rugged use in walls and ceilings across a wide variety of settings and capacities.

The 3EW Tile Thermal Shield (TTS) is a tear-resistant encasement of 3EW PCM that serves as a thermal shield, delivering optimised heating and cooling temperature control in building envelopes. The 3EW TTS can be set to achieve an automated temperature control triggered by variable setpoints.

Certification in progress.

• The estimated ROI will be1.5 years to 4.5 years.
• There is a low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) as 3EW PCM requires zero maintenance.

No. 3EW PCM is a passive element and does not requires any electricity to function, thus eliminating the need for maintenance.

●      No. 3EW PCM requires an active airflow, which 3°C delta-T only from PCM temperature value to charge. For example, 30°C 3EW PCM requires an active airflow at 27°C to charge it.

• The application of 3EW PCMis endless.
• 3E Works’s area of expertise is in telecommunication, multilocation retail, cold room, and utility industries.
• 3EW PCM is designed for extreme energy efficiency and savings, HVAC performance, and temperature resiliency with overall low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).