Energy storage system temperature simulation principle

What is thermal energy storage?

Thermal energy storages are applied to decouple the temporal offset between heat generation and demand. For increasing the share of fluctuating renewable energy sources, thermal energy storages are undeniably important. Typical applications are heat and cold supply for buildings or in industries as well as in thermal power plants.

What are sensible and latent thermal energy storage?

Sensible, latent, and thermochemical energy storages for different temperatures ranges are investigated with a current special focus on sensible and latent thermal energy storages. Thermochemical heat storage is a technology under development with potentially high-energy densities.

How are sensible and latent thermal storage systems developed at Fraunhofer ISE?

Different sensible and latent thermal storage systems with different operation temperatures are developed at Fraunhofer ISE from the material to the system level. At the material level, the development of PCS, the degradation of PCMs, and the compatibility of fillers for sensible storages is addressed in current research projects.

Which components are developed for latent thermal energy storage systems?

Furthermore, components for latent thermal energy storage systems are developed including macroencapsulated PCM and immersed heat exchanger configurations. For material development the following key points can be concluded.

What is a sensible heat storage system?

Sensible heat storage involves storing thermal energy by altering the temperature of the storage medium. In a latent heat storage system, heat is released or absorbed during phase changes within the storage medium.

What is thermochemical heat storage?

Thermochemical heat storage is a technology under development with potentially high-energy densities. The binding energy of a working pair, for example, a hydrating salt and water, is used for thermal energy storage in different variants (liquid/solid, open/closed) with strong technological links to adsorption and absorption chillers.