Your great-grandmother’s ice box, keeping milk cool with a block of cut ice, could be inspiring the next generation of energy storage. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, or NREL, along with other scientists, is researching ways ice storage, chilled water and other materials could help cool structures sustainably during summer heat waves.
NREL is sharing research that includes this kind of system as a possible way to protect people during extreme weather events. Scorching summers that can lead to grid-overloaded power outages sometimes leave people without conveniences like air conditioning and refrigeration. So, this study looked at ways to help people survive safely indoors longer with a variety of weatherization methods.
Researchers are using terms like phase change materials (PCM) and thermal energy storage (TES) to describe ways to update the ice box concept for today. They’re looking at energy storage systems using materials that even include wax, sand or graphite, finding ways to insulate and cool areas in an environmentally friendly way. The systems need a material for storage as well as heat exchangers. They could augment other renewable energy systems like solar in commercial environments.
The study titled Thermal Battery Cost Scaling Analysis in the Journal Energy & Environmental Science explains the need to improve the ways we heat and cool buildings. “For example, air conditioning is needed during the hottest part of the day, but that is also when it is least efficient. Ideally, the air conditioner would be run at night, when cooling cycles are efficient and electricity is cheap. This mismatch can be overcome with ‘thermal batteries,’ in which a material stores heat (or cooling) and later discharges it to the thermal load.”
Some of these systems have a way to go in the research laboratory before being widely available commercially.
Anne Brock is marketing coordinator for Solar Alliance, which designs and manages solar installation projects for manufacturers and related grant work for small businesses. She can be reached at email or 865-221-8349.