Development of a Thermal Battery Unit Suitable for Waste Heat Storage and Transportation
- Agota Szedlak
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
The project titled “Development of a Thermal Battery Unit Suitable for Waste Heat Storage and Transportation” (2021-2.1.2-HŐ-2021-00004) was successfully completed, with HeatVentors Ltd. as a consortium member.
Public summary of the project:
„Mobile thermal battery container – a new method for more flexible and energy-efficient solutions to heating and cooling demands
Various industrial and agricultural processes occur at high temperatures or involve heat emissions. The heat generated or remaining but unused on site is called residual or waste heat. In Europe alone, the amount of residual heat left from electricity production could cover the entire heating demand of the continent. The problem is that although heat is needed, it usually isn’t required at the time and/or location where the residual heat is generated. Such heat emitters, varying in heat quantity and temperature, include iron foundries, cement factories, oil refineries, plastic processing plants, nuclear power plants, distilleries, and many others. For some of these, the amount of residual heat is small, making traditional transport methods (e.g., pipelines) uneconomical. However, there are numerous emitters where both the quantity and temperature of the heat are sufficiently large to make utilization worthwhile.
Within the framework of the current project funded by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NKFIH) and the Ministry of Energy (2021-2.1.2-HŐ-2021-00004, “Development of a Thermal Storage Unit Suitable for Waste Heat Storage and Transportation”), a seven-member consortium developed Hungary’s first mobile thermal storage devices. These phase change material-filled thermal storage containers are designed to be charged with heat at the emission site and then connected to the heating circuit at the utilization site to replace the boiler and provide heating. The consortium members include Thermofoam Ltd., Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), HeatVentors Ltd., IMSYS Ltd., University of Pannonia, HUN-REN TTK, and MAHART Freeport Plc.
Building on the successful pilot project, the following could be ensured in the future:
· Heating and cooling for households as well as small and medium-sized institutions and companies,
· Increased energy efficiency and reduced specific CO2 emissions for heat emitters (industrial players) and energy companies,
· Reduced thermal load on the environment and CO2 emission reduction due to saved fuel,
· Reduced national dependence on fossil fuels.
As a result of the project, two mobile thermal storage units were produced: one optimized for rapid charging and heat release, and the other capable of storing larger amounts of heat with relatively low total weight. These two types enable more flexible satisfaction of heat demand.”
HeatVentors Ltd. designed, manufactured, and successfully commissioned the thermal storage system consisting of three modules. The charging and discharging tests, as well as the demonstration of transportation, confirmed the system’s operation, and the sensor measurement results closely matched the thermodynamic simulations. The system’s modularity, flexibility, and fast response time enable a wide range of applications. Several versions of the charging and discharging stations were developed, which are universally applicable, easy to install, and relocatable. The size and mounting of the storage units can be freely varied, and new systems can be easily designed based on the simulation model.
The project presentation can be viewed in the video below, with the relevant section starting at 10:10: