Salt heat batteries
Just came across this article. Quite interesting: https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/battery-heat-salt-gas-russia-b2067404.html
Buy Bodge Buster – Homeowner Air Source Heat Pump Installation Guide: https://amzn.to/3NVndlU
From Zero to Heat Pump Hero: https://amzn.to/4bWkPFb
Subscribe and follow our Homeowners’ Q&A heat pump podcast
I found a website with a bit more technical writing on it:
https://techxplore.com/news/2022-04-battery-quickly-millions-homes-gas-free.html
I haven't seen the efficiency of it anywhere, and I think it needs a source of heat of >100C - the big win I think being having no standby losses at all. I don't see how it helps in a self contained single domestic setting versus a storage heater / DHW tank / thermal store / phase change material. Storage heaters have a bad rep for loosing heat too quickly, but I'm confident they could be a lot better with vacuum panels and a better form factor.
They are considering free sources of 150C heat to charge it up, transporting it losslessly (except for the transport!), and using it in a house.
The simple ideas are often the best.
Looking at the physical size, the energy density would appear to be in the region of that for battery storage, though of course battery storage can be used to power other devices rather than just heating. Dependent upon the availability and cost of the required salt crystals, such a system could be cheaper than battery storage.
Looking into the future we may see homes with salt batteries powered by solar thermal panels and also electrical batteries power by solar PV systems, which in combination could provide the vast majority of the homes energy needs throughout much of the year. It may even be possible to use energy stored in salt batteries to preheat the air going into an ASHP, thereby improving the overall efficiency on cold Winter nights.
I particularly like the idea of using waste industrial heat energy to dry the salt, which then could be stored for use during the Winter heating season.
I did a bit of reading on the subject and the biggest challenge with using salt is ‘releasing’ the heat that has been created because apparently salt likes to hang onto heat. So it’ll be interesting to see how they get around that.
Innovation like this can only be positive and maybe it can branch out into the verticals that Derek has mentioned.
Buy Bodge Buster – Homeowner Air Source Heat Pump Installation Guide: https://amzn.to/3NVndlU
From Zero to Heat Pump Hero: https://amzn.to/4bWkPFb
Subscribe and follow our Homeowners’ Q&A heat pump podcast
My ASHP installers, CAPLOR, have a salt battery system set up at their HQ in Herefordshire. I was shown it recently.
Caplor have been involved in Green energy for many years and have experimented with solar, wind and ASHP's. The owner (an ex student of mine) has experimented with different sources.
If you wish to know something specific let me know and I can ask.
Mike
Posted by: @mikefitzCaplor have been involved in Green energy for many years and have experimented with solar, wind and ASHP's. The owner (an ex student of mine) has experimented with different sources.
If you wish to know something specific let me know and I can ask.
Mike
Hi Mike,
I am planning to install some battery storage next year, so not desperate.
Rather than buy equipment from China, to fund their military, I would prefer to get equipment from the UK, or at least European.
- 22 Forums
- 2,084 Topics
- 45.9 K Posts
- 28 Online
- 3,377 Members
Join Us!
Trusted Installers
Struggling to find a reliable heat pump installer? A poor installation can lead to inefficiencies and high running costs. We now connect homeowners with top-rated installers who deliver quality work and excellent service.
✅ Verified, trusted & experienced installers
✅ Nationwide coverage expanding
✅ Special offers available
Latest Posts
-
RE: My misgivings about installing ASHP and solar panels via the ECO4 scheme...
@editor great article re accreditation. I note ISO/IEC ...
By Bart , 50 minutes ago
-
RE: Renewables & Heat Pumps in the News
Here’s a little more technical detail/p>
By Judith , 14 hours ago
-
A good start but I’m glad I didn’t need to learn someth...
By Judith , 14 hours ago
-
RE: Who's your electricity provider and what's your tariff?
I don't (yet), but my PW3 is due to be installed shortl...
By Old_Scientist , 19 hours ago
-
RE: MCS and NAPIT complaints process
@chrislay, is your heat pump complaint still unresolved...
By Mars , 23 hours ago
-
RE: ASHP Install from hell - help please
@saf1973 I’ve been going through old cases on the forum...
By Mars , 23 hours ago
-
RE: Getting the best out of a heat pump - is Homely a possible answer?
@benson I have gone down the Home Assistant and wavesha...
By Grantmethestrength , 1 day ago
-
RE: RDSAP10 effect on existing heat pump EPC rating?
@aaron There's the rub, the database does not list my ...
By AF1 , 1 day ago
-
RE: Renewable Heating Hub Homeowners' Q&A Podcast
@editor excellent news, congratulations and well deserv...
By ASHP-BOBBA , 2 days ago
-
RE: Vaillant AroTherm Plus 7kW
Depends on the flow temperature; the Czech data sheet i...
By JamesPa , 2 days ago
-
RE: Commencing on an ASHP Installation Process
Yes, it's "doable" if everything goes to plan, they arr...
By Old_Scientist , 3 days ago
-
RE: How not to install a heat pump
You are right. Thinking on this has evolved over the p...
By JamesPa , 3 days ago
-
RE: DHW SET UP with Samsung gen 5
Thats good news indeed, you are very likely almost ther...
By JamesPa , 4 days ago
-
RE: Plate heat exchanger considerations
As far as I can tell my vented system would have a peak...
By Scalextrix , 4 days ago
-
RE: Air Changes per Hour - ACH and the MCS requirement
There have been a few discussions dotted around (e.g. I...
By Declan90 , 4 days ago
-
RE: Heat Pump Servicing & Maintenance – Good Value or Rip-Off?
Having made some enquiries locally I have found a compa...
By Morgan , 4 days ago