Solar Thermal Energy Storage

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Basics

  • Solar thermal is a great renewable form of energy
  • Despite this it (along with Photovoltaic Solar) only works when the sun shines (ie not at night, and not during storms/sufficiently cloudy days)
  • Thus storage is neccisary for more stable power

Research

Methods

  • Saturated Water
  • Molten Salt (or equivalent other substances)
  • Heated Solid (Such as a metal cube with an insulating shroud, or heated concrete with a shroud)
  • Heated liquid (Such as Oil)
  • Phase Change Materials
  • Pressurized Air
  • Pressurized/Elevated Water
  • Flywheel
  • Conversion to Electricity, and Electric Storage

Industry Standards

Existing Open Source Designs

Minimum Viable Product

  • Capable of storing x Joules of Energy

Basic Design

Heat Generator

Heat Delivery

  • Either by piping of the working fluid, or a heatpipe

Heat Storage

  • Molten salt
  • Concrete, high temperature with pipes through it
  • Ruths storage system - or Steam accumulator - or saturated water

BOM


See Also

Useful Links