Lämpöakkuteknologiat

Lämpöakkuteknologiat, known in English as thermal battery technologies, refer to systems designed to store thermal energy, typically heat, for later use. These technologies play a crucial role in improving energy efficiency, managing intermittent renewable energy sources, and reducing carbon emissions. Unlike electrochemical batteries that store electrical energy, thermal batteries store energy in the form of heat or cold.

The fundamental principle behind most thermal battery technologies involves using materials that can absorb and release significant amounts of heat during phase transitions or temperature changes. Common methods include sensible heat storage, latent heat storage, and thermochemical heat storage. Sensible heat storage utilizes materials whose temperature rises when heat is added and falls when heat is released. Latent heat storage employs materials that absorb or release heat during a phase change, such as melting or solidifying, at a relatively constant temperature. Thermochemical heat storage involves reversible chemical reactions that absorb heat during the forward reaction and release it during the reverse reaction.

Various materials can be used in thermal batteries, including water, molten salts, concrete, and phase change materials (PCMs). The choice of material depends on the desired operating temperature, storage capacity, and cost considerations. Applications for thermal battery technologies are diverse, ranging from domestic hot water storage and space heating/cooling to industrial process heat management and grid-scale energy storage. By decoupling heat generation from heat consumption, these technologies enable better utilization of energy, especially from sources like solar thermal or waste heat.