With the continuous integration and miniaturization of electronic devices, the heat transfer of the electronic devices continues to surge. This means that thermal management equipment with higher heat flux cooling capacity is required to maintain its normal operation. This paper systematically reviews the progress of spray cooling. In the first part, the thermal dissipation mechanism of spray cooling in the non-boiling regime and boiling regime are summarized, and the correlation formula of heat transfer is summarized. In the second part, the influencing factors of various parameters of the nozzle are summarized, the experimental research and numerical simulation research are summarized separately, and some means and methods to strengthen heat transfer are listed. In the third part, we summarize the current application research of spray cooling in some hot new fields, including electronic technology, aerospace, biomedicine, battery safety, etc. The research prospects and challenges in these fields are highlighted. This research provides a timely and necessary study of spray cooling.

Liquid fossil fuel is anticipated to run out by the mid-2060s. The destruction of land, water, and air due to fossil fuel use contributes to environmental degradation. Policymakers, scientists, and researchers are looking into power generation from renewable sources, such as wind and solar energy, because of the threat of climate change owing to global warming brought on by greenhouse gas emissions. Although there have been substantial advancements in the use of large-scale wind turbines for power generation, small-scale wind turbines, which have the potential for solo power generation, have not received wider acceptance yet due to their lower-than-expected power generation performance. This study’s main goal is to analyse the limitations of harnessing wind energy by small-scale wind turbines for power generation in built-up areas for residential and commercial uses. The study focuses on the difficulties and potential of generating electric power from small wind turbines in urban settings. The state of wind characteristics in built-up areas, economic viability, aerodynamic limitations, and governmental regulations for small-scale wind turbines are also discussed.

High temperatures in photovoltaic (PV) modules lead to the degradation of electrical efficiency. To address the challenge of reducing the temperature of photovoltaic modules and enhancing their electrical power output efficiency, a simple but efficient photovoltaic cooling system based on heat pipes (PV-HP) is introduced in this study. Through experimental and numerical investigations, this study delves into the temperature characteristics and power output performance of the PV-HP system. Orthogonal tests are conducted to discern the influence of different factors on the PV-HP system. The experimental findings indicate that the performance of the PV-HP system is superior to that of the single system without heat pipes. The numerical simulation shows the effects of system structural parameters (number of heat pipes, angle of heat pipe condensation section) on system temperature and power output performance. The numerical simulation results show that increasing the angle of the heat pipe condensation section and the number of heat pipes leads to a significant drop in system temperature and an increase in the efficiency of the photovoltaic cells.

Two-dimensional transition metal carbides/nitrides (MXenes) have shown potential in biosensors, cancer theranostics, microbiology, electromagnetic interference shielding, photothermal conversion, and thermal energy storage due to their unique electronic structure, ability to absorb a wide range of light, and tunable surface chemistry. In spite of the growing interest in MXenes, there are relatively few studies on their applications in phase-change materials for enhancing thermal conductivity and weak photo-responsiveness between 0 °C and 150 °C. Thus, this study aims to provide a current overview of recent developments, to examine how MXenes are made, and to outline the combined effects of different processes that can convert light into heat. This study illustrates the mechanisms that include enhanced broadband photon harvesting through localized surface plasmon resonance, electron–phonon coupling-mediated nonradiative relaxation, and interlayer phonon transport that optimizes thermal diffusion pathways. This study emphasizes that MXene-engineered 3D thermal networks can greatly improve energy storage and heat conversion, solving important problems with phase-change materials (PCMs), like poor heat conductivity and low responsiveness to light. This study also highlights the real-world issues of making MXene-based materials on a large scale, and suggests future research directions for using them in smart thermal management systems and solar thermal grid technologies.

Within the next five years, renewable energy is expected to account for approximately 80% of the new global power generation capacity, with solar power contributing to more than half of this growth. However, the intermittent nature of solar energy remains a significant challenge to fully realizing its potential. Thus, efficient energy storage is crucial for optimizing the effectiveness and dependability of renewable energy. Phase-change materials (PCMs) can play an important role in solar energy storage due to their low cost and high volumetric energy storage density. The low thermal conductivity of PCMs restricts their use for energy storage, despite their immense potential. Hence, the primary goal of this study is to experimentally investigate the energy storage capacity of two blended phase-change materials (paraffin and barium hydroxide octahydrate) through integration with a medium-temperature solar heat collection system. The experimental findings reveal that the blended PCMs possess the highest cumulative charge fraction (0.59), energy capacity, and low energy loss compared to each PCM alone. Furthermore, the phase change storage tank achieves higher heat storage (27%) and exergy storage efficiency (18%) compared to the stored tank water without any PCMs. The blended PCMs enhanced their performance, exhibiting improved interaction and excellent thermal storage properties across a range of temperatures, offering an opportunity for the design of an energy-efficient, low-cost storage system.