heatstoring

Heat storing refers to the collection, retention, and later release of thermal energy for use in heating or cooling applications. The goal is to balance energy supply and demand by storing heat when it is abundant or cheap and retrieving it when it is scarce or expensive. Thermal energy storage can be integrated with solar thermal systems, district heating, buildings, and industrial processes to improve efficiency and reliability.

There are several storage mechanisms. Sensible heat storage stores energy by raising or lowering the temperature of a material without changing its phase, typically using water, rocks, concrete, or packed beds. Latent heat storage uses phase change materials that absorb or release large amounts of energy at nearly constant temperatures during melting or solidification, enabling higher energy densities. Thermochemical storage relies on reversible chemical reactions that absorb energy during a reaction and release it when the reaction is reversed, offering long-term storage with potentially high energy density.

Common storage media include water for low-temperature needs, molten salts or dedicated heat transfer fluids for higher temperatures, and concrete or rock for bulk storage. Phase change materials range from paraffins to salts and clathrates, selected for operating temperature and compatibility with system components.

Applications span solar thermal power and district heating, building heating and cooling, and industrial process heat. Performance depends on storage capacity (energy density), charge/discharge rates, and heat losses over time, as well as system cost and durability. Advantages of heat storing include enhanced renewable integration, peak-shaving, and reduced fuel use; limitations involve capital costs, material stability, temperature constraints, and insulation requirements.

Environmental and economic considerations include material sourcing, lifecycle impacts, and the potential for long-term, low-carbon energy when integrated with renewable energy systems.