This topical report describes active heat exchange concepts for use with thermal energy storage systems in the temperature range of 250 deg.C - 350 deg. C, using the heat of fusion of molten salts for storing thermal energy. It identifies over 25 novel techniques for active heat exchange thermal energy storage systems. Salt mixtures that freeze and melt in appropriate ranges are identified and are evaluated for physico-chemical, economic, corrosive and safety characteristics. Eight active heat exchange concepts for heat transfer during solidification are conceived and conceptually designed for use with selected storage media. The concepts are analyzed for their scalability, maintenance, safety, technological development and costs. A model for estimating and scaling storage system costs is developed and is used for economic evaluation of salt mixtures and heat exchange concepts for a large scale application. The importance of comparing salts and heat exchange concepts on a total system cost basis, rather than the component cost basis alone, is pointed out. Comparison of these costs with current state-of-the-art systems should be avoided due to significant differences in developmental status. The heat exchange concepts were sized and compared for 6.5 MPa/281 C steam conditions and a 1000 MW(t) heat rate for six hours. A cost sensitivity analysis for other design conditions is also carried out. The study resulted in the selection of a shell and coated-tube heat exchanger concept and a direct contact-reflux boiler heat exchange concept. For the storage medium, a dilute eutectic mixture of 99 wt% NaN03 and 1 wt% NaOH is selected for use in experimenting with the selected heat exchanger concepts in subsequent tasks.

Thermal energy storage (TES) technologies store thermal energy (both heat and cold) for later use as required, rather than at the time of production. They are therefore important counterparts to various intermittent renewable energy generation methods and also provide a way of valorising waste process heat and reducing the energy demand of buildings. This book provides an authoritative overview of this key area. Part one reviews sensible heat storage technologies. Part two covers latent and thermochemical heat storage respectively. The final section addresses applications in heating and energy systems. - Reviews sensible heat storage technologies, including the use of water, molten salts, concrete and boreholes - Describes latent heat storage systems and thermochemical heat storage - Includes information on the monitoring and control of thermal energy storage systems, and considers their applications in residential buildings, power plants and industry

Energy Storage not only plays an important role in conservinq the energy but also improves the performance and reliability of a wide range of energy systems. Energy storagp. leads to saving of premium fuels and makes the system morA cost effective by reducing the wastage of energy. In most systems there is a mismatch between the energy supply and energy demand. The energy storage can even out this imbalance and thereby help in savings of capital costs. Enerqy storage is all the more important where the enerqy source is intermittent such as Solar Energy. The use of jntermittent energy sources is likely to grow. If more and more solar energy is to be used for domestic and industrial applications then energy storage is very crucial. If no storage is used in solar energy systems then the major part of the energy demand will be met by the back-up or auxiliary energy and therefore the so called annual solar load fract]on will be very low. In case of solar energy, both short term and long term energy storage systems can be used whjch can adjust the phase difference between solar energy supply and energy demand and can match seasonal demands to the solar availability respectively. Thermal energy storage can lead to capital cost savings, fuel savjngs, and fuel substitution in many application areas. Developing an optimum thermal storaqe system is as important an area of research as developinq an alternative source of energy.