Lämmönvarasto

Lämmönvarasto, often translated as heat storage or thermal energy storage, refers to a system designed to capture thermal energy for later use. This stored heat can originate from various sources, including solar energy, waste heat from industrial processes, or even excess heat generated by a building's heating system. The primary goal of a lämmönvarasto is to improve energy efficiency by decoupling the time of heat generation from the time of heat demand. This allows for a more consistent and reliable supply of heating or cooling, even when the primary energy source is intermittent, such as solar radiation.

There are several types of lämmönvarasto systems, broadly categorized by the medium used for storing heat. Sensible heat storage involves raising or lowering the temperature of a storage medium without changing its phase. Common materials for sensible heat storage include water, rocks, or concrete. Latent heat storage utilizes the heat absorbed or released during a phase change, such as the melting or freezing of a material. Phase change materials (PCMs) are specifically engineered for this purpose and can store significant amounts of energy in a small volume. Thermochemical heat storage involves reversible chemical reactions that store and release heat.

The application of lämmönvarasto systems is diverse, ranging from large-scale industrial heat recovery to domestic hot water systems and building heating. They play a crucial role in enabling the wider adoption of renewable energy sources by mitigating their inherent variability. By balancing supply and demand, lämmönvarasto contributes to reduced energy consumption, lower operational costs, and a decreased environmental impact.