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New PCM product

Energy Storage

Last Post by Rusty 4 years ago

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NeilH

(@neilh)

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Posts: 10

Topic starter 30/09/2021 8:26 am

I found this article but have received no reply from MGS or Cranfield. Can anyone track the device down?

THEENERGYST.COM "https://theenergyst.com/phase-change-materials-decarbonising-heat/"

Decarbonising heat: Phase change materials crack thermal storage - theenergyst.com

Cranfield University has been heating campus buildings using a heat storage system based on phase change materials since March, cutting consumption and carbon. Now the company behind the technology is ready to go to market. A UK engineering firm thinks it has found a way to deliver heating and hot water at lower carbon, lower

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Mars

(@editor)

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Posts: 3379

30/09/2021 8:32 am

Sounds interesting. I’ll try to contact Marton Geotechnical Services.

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Derek M

(@derek-m)

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30/09/2021 2:38 pm

Posted by: @neilh

I found this article but have received no reply from MGS or Cranfield. Can anyone track the device down?

THEENERGYST.COM "https://theenergyst.com/phase-change-materials-decarbonising-heat/"

Decarbonising heat: Phase change materials crack thermal storage - theenergyst.com

Cranfield University has been heating campus buildings using a heat storage system based on phase change materials since March, cutting consumption and carbon. Now the company behind the technology is ready to go to market. A UK engineering firm thinks it has found a way to deliver heating and hot water at lower carbon, lower

Hi Neil,

Looks very much like the same chemical process used in the Sunamp heat battery. The Sunamp units look nice, but very expensive.

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NeilH

(@neilh)

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Topic starter 30/09/2021 6:51 pm

@derek-m It seems to be a different PCM chemical though, perhaps with superior qualities. Yes, these are currently very expensive (and certainly for domestic use) but all new technology products are at first. But PCM seems in principle to be a better approach for the future than huge amounts of water as a thermal store. As an avid though ageing DIYer I will however continue to use several linked water cylinders - I have space and a sunken concrete floor with drain hole !

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Derek M

(@derek-m)

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01/10/2021 10:57 am

Posted by: @neilh

@derek-m It seems to be a different PCM chemical though, perhaps with superior qualities. Yes, these are currently very expensive (and certainly for domestic use) but all new technology products are at first. But PCM seems in principle to be a better approach for the future than huge amounts of water as a thermal store. As an avid though ageing DIYer I will however continue to use several linked water cylinders - I have space and a sunken concrete floor with drain hole !

Hi Neil,

Your system sounds like something I have been contemplating for some time, my main problem is limited space.

So, how many litres of water are in your heat store? I assume that you are using it for space heating. What is your energy source, solar thermal, solar PV or something else? How effective is it at reducing your energy consumption?

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NeilH

(@neilh)

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Posts: 10

Topic starter 03/10/2021 1:30 pm

@derek-m Derek, this is in plannning/feasability stage for bungalow we hope to complete on by Xmas. Will post details as & when

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Rusty

(@rusty)

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Posts: 51

21/12/2021 3:29 pm

Has anybody seriously considered installing a Sunamp heat battery?

How about a Caldera system (though I don’t think these are available yet)?

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Derek M

(@derek-m)

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21/12/2021 5:17 pm

Hi @rusty

You could achieve the same amount of energy storage using approximately 2000 litres of water, at a fraction of the cost.

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Rusty

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21/12/2021 6:12 pm

Posted by: @derek-m

Hi @rusty

You could achieve the same amount of energy storage using approximately 2000 litres of water, at a fraction of the cost.

Hi @derek-m

The Caldera one? Yes, I sort of tossed that one in, £12k is rather a lot.

We are partially refurbishing our house, which is long and thin, originally an old stone stable converted in the 80’s with a newer block built extension on the end. The intention is to move the kitchen from one end to the other, with the old kitchen becoming the new “plant room”. I was wondering about adding a heat store at the new kitchen end as most of the HW use will be at that end (bathrooms, etc.) and it appears to be somewhat more size efficient than a standard tank, without pumping from the other end to provide enough head, but it may not be necessary or cost efficient or sensible. I was also considering adding PV and the best place for that is at the new kitchen end, on the garage/outbuildings, so it avoids routing the cables for a diverter the length of the house if the HW tank is in the old end (currently an old tank resides upstairs, which it may be best to retain, but removal would free up storage space in the bedroom. If any of that makes sense.

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