Properties and encapsulation forms of phase change material and various types of cold storage box for cold chain logistics: A review

Cold chain logistics has become an indispensable link in the current national economic support. To ensure the sustainable development of energy and improve energy efficiency, it is particularly important to develop a passive economical cold chain technology. Phase change cold storage technology has the characteristics of large energy storage capacity, low carbon and recyclable. It can be combined with the traditional insulation box to obtain a cold storage box for cold chain that can absorb renewable energy. In this study, the phase change cold storage materials, cold storage units and diversified cold storage box applied to cold chain logistics are reviewed. Besides, based on the state-of-the-art research, the future development direction of phase change cold storage materials and cold storage box is prospected.