PCM storage
Latent heat storage is a technology that can achieve high energy densities by using materials that melt and freeze at very specific temperatures, called phase change materials (PCM).
By melting, the can store large quantities of heat. When they need to release the stored heat, they freeze again at a specific temperature. By doing that, they can provide large quantities of thermal energy in tight temperature range. The biggest advantage of PCMs is that they can store the same amount of energy as a water tank in 4 time less occupied volume. This makes them really practical to install even where space is limited or at premium.
Based on the understanding that the world uses over twice as much heat as electricity, Sunamp heat batteries help solve numerous problems by storing energy as heat, when that energy is available and releasing it when needed. The innovation comes from using a special formulation of energy storage material housed in a unique, proprietary, high power heat battery. Sunamp heat batteries contain inorganic, non-toxic, salt-based Phase Change Materials (PCM), which absorb and release thermal energy during the process of melting and freezing. When a PCM freezes, it releases a huge amount of energy in the form of latent heat at a selected constant temperature.
These batteries store up to 2.5 kWh of heat, equivalent to around 50 litres of hot water. Depending on how much energy is needed in a house, office or farm, the number of red cells used will increase. A battery can be charged or discharged in just five minutes (30kW rate). In Heat4Cool, Sunamp Heat Batteries will be integrated to a heat pump directly driven by solar PV panels, and used for space heating / cooling, and to provide hot water. This system is expected to provide significant savings in CO2 emissions and fuel bills related to heating and cooling, and it will be developed to replicate in other retrofitting projects or new constructions.