Thermal energy storage (TES) refers to the technology that allows the transfer and storage of heat energy or, alternatively, energy from ice or cold air or water.
This method is built into new technologies that complement energy solutions, such as solar.
Explaining Thermal Energy Storage
Some thermal energy storage methods allow for daily use, for example, using off-peak nighttime energy to create hot or cold storage that is used to power systems throughout the day. Other systems are more long-term, such as systems that store solar energy in the summer for use in the winter.
The idea behind TES is changing the way users generate the vast amount of heating and cooling capacity that eats up so much conventional energy from the grid.
The problem is that much of the grid power used for heating and cooling buildings is generated by energy from fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. This can be addressed using TES, which can provide heating and cooling solutions easily by evening out the distributed heat in a natural landscape or cycle by applying heat stored in solar collectors.
Scientists and engineers are constantly working on new thermal energy storage solutions to replace fossil fuel-driven HVAC systems.
Summary
Thermal energy storage can be utilized to move the peak load of energy on the grid to off-peak hours. They can also augment a solar collector to store the energy during the day and supply the necessary energy during the night.
A simple tank model can be developed by writing a single energy balance equation on the tank water. In this equation, the tank dynamic temperature is equal to the heat supplied by the heat pump, heat rejected to the cold water entering the tank and heat lost to the ambient.
