Lämmönvarastointijärjestelmät

Lämmönvarastointi, often translated as thermal energy storage, refers to a technology that allows thermal energy, or heat, to be stored for later use. This stored heat can originate from various sources, including solar thermal collectors, industrial waste heat, or even electricity generated from renewable sources. The primary goal of lämmönvarastointi is to decouple the availability of heat from its demand. This means that heat generated at one time can be saved and utilized when it is needed, even if the source is no longer actively producing heat.

There are several methods for lämmönvarastointi, broadly categorized into sensible heat storage, latent heat storage, and thermochemical heat storage. Sensible heat storage involves changing the temperature of a storage material without altering its phase. Common materials include water, rock beds, and concrete. Latent heat storage utilizes the phase change of a material, such as melting and freezing, to store and release large amounts of energy at a near-constant temperature. Phase change materials (PCMs) are key to this method. Thermochemical heat storage involves reversible chemical reactions that absorb heat when going in one direction and release it when reversed.

The applications of lämmönvarastointi are diverse. It plays a crucial role in improving the efficiency of solar heating systems, allowing for the provision of hot water and space heating even when the sun is not shining. In industry, it can recover and reuse waste heat, leading to significant energy savings and reduced operational costs. Lämmönvarastointi also supports the integration of intermittent renewable energy sources like solar and wind by storing excess electricity as heat, which can then be converted back to electricity or used directly. This technology contributes to energy security, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and enhances grid stability.