Advancements in Thermal Energy Storage (TES) Systems
Advancements in thermal energy storage (TES) systems are improving their cost-effectiveness through several innovations:
Advancements in Materials and Designs
- Phase Change Materials (PCMs): Researchers are developing PCMs with higher energy storage densities and thermal properties, aiming for materials that can freeze and melt near room temperature, reducing the cost and increasing efficiency for building heating and cooling applications.
- Thermochemical Materials: These materials offer higher energy storage capacity than PCMs by using reversible chemical reactions. Projects, like those at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, focus on thermochemical TES to increase versatility and efficiency.
- Supercritical Fluids: UCLA and JPL are working on supercritical fluid-based systems, which are potentially much less expensive than traditional molten salt systems.
- Radial Flow Designs: KTH researchers have refined a 90% efficient thermal energy storage technology using radial flow packed-beds with pebbles or copper slags, reducing pressure drops and enhancing thermal efficiency while aiming for cost reduction.
System Integration and Efficiency
- Hybrid Designs: Incorporating AI and machine learning to optimize system performance and reduce costs are part of ongoing research efforts at institutions like NREL.
- Building Integration: Developing thermally anisotropic building envelopes that can harvest and store thermal energy from exterior environments.
Market and Policy Strategies
- Energy-as-a-Service Models: These models minimize upfront costs and financial risks for users while stabilizing energy costs, enabling participation in demand response programs.
- Government Support and Incentives: Favorable policies and financial incentives are driving the adoption of TES across various sectors, making them more cost-effective and attractive.
- Collaborative Research: Initiatives like the Stor4Build consortium and ARPA-E projects accelerate the development of cost-effective TES technologies by aligning research efforts and standards.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-advancements-are-being-made-to-improve-the-cost-effectiveness-of-thermal-energy-storage-systems/
