中文摘要：

相变材料（phase change material,PCM）具有较高的潜热值,储热密度大,且能近似等温的储、放热,可提高系统的稳定性和效率。本文针对热水器的应用背景,阐述了相变储热材料的遴选原则,分析了热水器用有机类、无机类相变储热材料的特点及性能,介绍了有机类相变储热材料强化换热的方法及无机类相变储热材料克服过冷及相分离的方法。在此基础上,重点分析了相变储热材料在太阳能热水器和热泵热水器中的应用情况,最后指出了相变材料在热水器中的合理布置中存在的问题,提出未来在相变储热材料的性能优化、相变材料与热水器的结合形式优化、太阳能热水器与热泵热水器的有效组合方面需要进一步探索。

英文摘要：

Phase change materials have high latent heat and high heat storage density. Due to the very slight temperature change when phase change occurs,they can improve the system operation efficiency. Based on their applications in water heater,the selection principles of phase change materials were summarized,and the characteristics of organic and inorganic phase change materials were reviewed. The methods to improve heat transfer of organic material,and to solve the phase separation and supercooling of the inorganic material were also introduced. Analysis was emphasized on their application in solar water heater and heat pump water heater. Finally,the arrangement problem using phase change materials in water heater was pointed out. The optimization of phase change materials properties,the way of applying phase change material into water heater,and the effective combination of solar water heater and heat pump water heater should be further studied in the future.