Latent heat storage (LHS) technology can solve the time-space non-continuity in the transfer of thermal energy

which can effectively reduce heat loss and accelerate the realization of China's carbon neutrality goal. However

the LHS system in practical applications needs to be equipped with heat transfer enhancement devices

considering the low thermal conductivity of phase change materials (PCMs)

which significantly increases the system complexity and capital cost. In this review

heat transfer enhancement methods

namely single heat transfer enhancement technology

combined heat transfer enhancement technology

multi-stage heat transfer enhancement technology

and liquid PCM flow enhancement technology

are briefly classified. The corresponding shortcomings of the last three technologies are described and explained. Based on the obtained conclusions

three relative geometric relations between the heat source and heat sink are summarized

namely the expansion type

parallel type

and contraction type

which can effectively guide the overall design of the latent heat storage units. Finally

the future application prospectives of latent heat storage technology are discussed. It is necessary to design latent heat storage from the system level based on knowledge of thermodynamics and system theory to achieve optimal thermodynamic performance and economic efficiency.