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Thermal Energy Storage

Research Area Manager: Doerte Laing

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The thermal energy storage research area is focused on the development of high-temperature heat storage units for solar thermal power plants and for applications for industrial process heat. In these areas, water/steam as the heat transfer medium is of critical importance.

Emphasis is put on the development of latent heat storage for steam processes. New materials concepts and new methods for the design and integration of the systems are being followed. Special attention is concentrated on the superheating area of 300 to 600 °C, which is important in attaining a high degree of efficiency. New materials concepts such as cascaded PCM storage units and melting range storage units are also being studied.
Sensible heat storage units are being developed for the applications where large temperature differences are required. The concrete storage technology is being further developed within projects in conjunction with industry. Also, the further development of molten salt storage units has again come into focus.

Research Areas:

• Regenerative solid state storage units for solar thermal parabolic power plants
• Storage development for direct steam generation in solar thermal power plants
• Latent heat storage for industrial process technology and solar process heat
• Molten salt storage
• Development of sensible and latent heat storage materials
• New concepts for efficient heat transfer inside the storage units
• Storage integration and system technology