Thermal Energy Storage

This one-day course presents the fundamentals of thermal energy storage (TES) systems -one of today's state-of-the-art options available for consideration by building owners and managers. Thermal energy storage-also called "cool storage" or "off-peak air conditioning" systems-is a technology that is united with air distribution systems to provide air conditioning for commercial and industrial buildings, or with other standard systems for industrial process cooling.

Conventional chillers or industrial-grade ice-making machines are used produce cooling capacity during non-peak generation hours which is stored in the form of chilled water or some type of "ice." The stored energy is then used to supply cooling capacity for air conditioning or process cooling.

This course discusses the purpose of TES and how TES functions, TES system technologies, configurations, and applications, and economic considerations. We also explore the potential benefits and drawbacks and explore a case study.