The sugar alcohol used as a low-calorie sweetener could also be important to heat transport and storage with implications for industrial and residential energy systems, according to a recent study.

The research examines erythritol-based phase change material (PCM) slurries for waste heat recovery, focusing on how varying carrier fluid concentrations affect their flow properties.
Erythritol-based PCM slurries are a type of thermal storage material used to absorb and release heat efficiently.

When heated, erythritol particles in the liquid slurry melt and absorb heat. When cooled, they solidify and release heat. This cycle helps regulate temperature in applications such as cooling systems, industrial-heat recovery and renewable-energy storage.

Because of its efficiency, it can absorb and release a lot of heat without requiring large energy volumes and doesn’t degrade. And because it’s a liquid, it can be pumped through systems.

By improving the understanding of these slurries’ flow behavior, the research paves the way for optimizing energy-efficient thermal-transport technologies, reducing waste-heat losses and enhancing sustainability in energy-intensive industries.

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