CSP with Thermal Storage increases Power Value

Pike Reseach reported on Dec 20, 2011 that, an estimated 70% decline in solar PV prices, and an easier permitting regime due to solar PV’s modularity, has contributed to the impression that CSP had missed its window of opportunity, and would be left behind.

Passive building with PCM and tools for analysis

Building energy consumption for it's temperature can be substantially reduced if solar energy is adequately utilized. Due to a strong need to reduce the total thermal energy requirement (both heating and cooling) in buildings, storage of thermal energy has gained prominence. The integration of phase change materials into building can provide a media to store the energy gain from solar radiation during the day and release the stored energy at night. 

Molten Salt Thermal Energy Storage

In 2011, Changzhou Sunhome Solar Water Heater Manufacture Co., Ltd. established a solar thermal electrical power storage research & development center in Changzhou science city. The R&D team comprises of 20 members including one Professor, one Doctor, six graduates and twelve undergraduates. The test facilities covering 4000 sq.m consists of high temperature storage tank, large scale molten salt heat exchanger, transmission & control of molten salt. The molten salt storage was studied at a laboratory scale before raising the research facility with a 100ton high temperature molten salt storage tank.

DOE presented opportunities to apply phase change materials

Opportunities to Apply Phase Change Materials to Building Enclosures: November 11, 2011
This webinar, presented by research team Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems (CSE), reviewed basic physical characteristics and thermal properties of phase change materials (PCMs) and provided guidance on how to effectively apply PCMs in buildings in the United States. PCMs as building materials components have the potential to achieve significant reductions in space cooling energy consumption and peak cooling loads.

Phase Change Material Trombe Wall

Appalachian State University's The Solar Homestead has taken the second place as on September 30th, 2011 in the Solar Decathlon 2011's communications content!! The Solar Homestead features a phase change material based Trombe Wall.

New Phase Change Material (PCM) Evaporator by Delphi

A Frankfurt press release on September 14, 2011 reported on a new phase change material based evaporator for hybrid vehicles that provides efficient, affordable air conditioning even when the car engine is off. The release stated that Delphi Automotive is developing an air conditioning technology that saves energy without compromising cabin comfort. The product incorporates a Phase Change Material (PCM) in the Evaporator that is expected to keep the cabin of start-stop vehicles cooler longer. The new evaporator is expected to be a direct replacement for the original air-conditioning evaporator. It will lower the cost, will be less complex than an electric air conditioning compressor and is more efficient.

Team enCORE installs savEnrg™ PCM Plenum to store heat generated from the solar thermal hot air collectors

enCORE from OSU will exhibit at Solar Decathlon 2011a unique ability to store heat generated from the solar thermal hot air collectors for extended periods of time. The structures uses a thermal battery which stores 30 hours of hot air at 86 degrees F. The thermal battery is designed using savEnrg™ Phase Change Material (PCM-29P) panels. savEnrg™ Phase Change Materials (PCM) are inorganic salt hydrates with negligible super cooling and sharp phase temperatures that have a capacity to store large amounts of energy as latent heat during their process of phase change. Phase Change Materials are non-toxic, non-combustible and made out of 100% natural, eco-friendly products.

Reseachers at UNNC develop new PCM

Researchers at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China ( UNNC) have developed a new PCM for room climate control that could be applied on wallpaper. This phase change material (PCM) retains and releases heat according to the specific temperature requirements for a building. The researchers claim large thermal energy storage capacity with fast thermal transfer properties than existing materials.

Recent development of PCM based thermal energy storage (TES) materials at the Air Force Research Laboratory

A news article today talked about a paper being published highlighting a unique application for inorganic  hydrated salt PCM. Regenerative thermal energy storage materials like hydrous salts are being highlighted for applications in thermal management of on-flight equipment like lasers and microwaves. 

World’s highest efficiency solar thermal cooling system inaugurated in India today

Government of India Press Information Bureau announced the inauguration of the world's highest efficiency solar thermal cooling system. It stated that " India achieves major breakthrough in solar thermal cooling system technology". The system was inaugurated at the Solar Energy Center in Guragon, Haryana, India by Dr. Farooq Abdullah, The minister of New & Renewable Energy on July 1, 2011.

Turbine Inlet Chilling (TIC) with Thermal Energy Storage (TES)

The hot air is lighter than cold air and has lesser oxygen to contribute to the combustion process of the turbine. So, when the summer temperatures rise, gas turbines lose efficiency and power. This results in significant reduction of the electrical output of the turbine. Generally during the summer, the power demand is at its peak and due to hot weather, the output of turbines is reduced and the power producers experience a reduction in performance. Turbine Inlet Chilling (TIC) is considered to be a cost effective solution to this problem.

Phase Change Material for Marine Holdover Plates

Holdover plates, as defined by the Refrigeration Parts Solution, are stainless steel tanks which contain an evaporator coil surrounded by a Phase Change Material called propylene glycol .  As the compressor runs, this solution freezes.  Once the compressor turns off, the frozen solution continues to absorb heat from the refrigerated box thereby extending the "off" cycle of the compressor.  When incorporated into a properly designed system, holdover plates can significantly reduce average energy consumption.

Phase Change Material as a safe substitute for Dry ice

Dry ice is generally used as a refrigerant for packaging and transporting food, pharmaceutical products and biological samples that are needed to be kept frozen. Dry ice is generally considered non toxic with an enthalpy of sublimation equal to 57 1 kJ/Kg which makes it a very effective coolant. Dry ice however is very dangerous if not handled with care. It's sublimation produces carbon dioxide vapors which is harmful in high concentrations and directly enhances carbon emissions. Direct contact with dry ice can freeze cells and give effects similar to burns. Phase Change Materials like PCM23N provide an advantage over using dry ice. 

Free Cooling with PCM22P

savEnrg PCM22P is an inorganic salt hydrate which freezes at temperatures below +16 degree C and melts at temperatures above +27 degree C. It's latent heat storage capacity is 185KJ/Kg and is tested for 3000 cycles. About 20Kg of this material is needed to store 1KW of thermal energy.

Frequently asked questions about Phase Change Material