1. Canned
Heat
Energy
Storage
J.
Skardon
2
June
2013
jskardon@gmail.com
CONFIDENTIAL-­‐
John
N.
Skardon

2.
Thermal
Energy
Storage
(TES)-­‐Technology
Status
The
purpose
of
Thermal
Energy
Storage
(TES)
systems
is
to
store
a
sizeable
quanNty
of
thermal
energy
(heat
or
cold)
for
long
periods.
The
ability
to
store
thermal
energy
is
very
important
for
using
renewable
energy
in
heaNng
and
cooling
systems
effecNvely,
since
it
decouples
the
availability
of
renewable
energy
from
the
Nme
when
it
is
needed,
thus
increasing
the
degree
which
it
can
be
uNlized.
There
are
three
major
reasons
for
using
thermal
energy
storage:
1. Improving
system
efficiency
by
avoiding
parNal
load
operaNon
,or
operaNon
at
other
sub-­‐
opNmal
Nmes,
or
taking
advantage
of
waste
energy
(e.g.
heat
released
from
chillers).
This
can
involve
storage
over
hours,
days
or
months.
2. ShiUing
demand
over
Nme
to
reduce
peak
loads.
This
can
improve
overall
energy
system
efficiency,
reduce
investment
in
energy
infrastructure
and
reduce
costs.
Storage
is
typically
required
for
hours
or
days.
3. FacilitaNng
the
greater
use
of
renewable
energy
by
storing
energy
available
at
a
certain
Nme,
so
it
can
beVer
cover
demand
(storing
solar
thermal
energy
over
days,
weeks
or
months
to
match
water
and/or
space
heaNng
demand).
CONFIDENTIAL-­‐
John
N.
Skardon

3. Canned
Heat
(CH)-­‐Energy
Storage
Technology
CONFIDENTIAL-­‐
John
N.
Skardon
• We
plan
to
commercialize
a
technology
for
storing
energy
in
adsorbents.
• Charging
the
storage
unit
is
done
with
a
variety
of
waste
heat
sources
or
using
renewable
driven
heaters.
• Heat
can
be
extracted
at
60-­‐80ºC
by
simply
adding
humid
air
via
a
baVery
powered
fan.
• Material
used
are
low
cost,
well
studied,
but
can
also
be
grown
as
a
thin
film,
enabling
us
to
use
micro
fabricaNon
techniques
to
achieve
very
high
storage
densiNes.
• Markets
include
seasonal
storage
of
excess
thermal
energy
in
summer,
emergency
heat
for
first
responders
and
military
during
disasters,
intrinsically
safe
process
heat
(no
flame
or
spark),
space
heaNng
of
all
types.

4. Some
Basics
(CH)
Adsorbents
Material:
• Can
be
purchased
(bulk)
or
made
on
site.
• Can
be
grown
as
very
thin
film.
• Energy
storage
200kw/m3,
upper
limit
may
be
300+.
OperaAon
Mode:
• Charging
Mode:
Energy
stored
when
H20
is
desorbed.
• Discharge
Mode:
Energy
released
when
H20
(humid
air)
added
.
• Reversible,
no
degradaNon.
Science
Background
:
• Surface
science.
• Langmuir
Isotherms.
CONFIDENTIAL-­‐
John
N.
Skardon

5. RH,T
sensors
60-­‐80º
Hot
Dry
Air
output
Micro
Controller
Unit
RH,T
sensors
25-­‐35ºC
90%
RH
Air
input
Adsorbent
filled
cylinder
(Insulated)
*As
water
adsorbs
onto
the
adsorber,
energy
is
released
and
the
weight
of
the
adsorber
container
increases
due
to
the
adsorbed
water
(max
about
250mg/g
of
H20).
*RH-­‐RelaNve
Humidity
*T-­‐
Temperature
AdsorpAon/Discharge
Mode
(GeneraAon
of
Heat)
CONFIDENTIAL-­‐
John
N.
Skardon
Canned
Heat
-­‐Concept:

6. Adsorbent
filled
cylinder
(Insulated)
100-­‐250ºC
Renewable
powered
air
heater
or
waste
heat.
Hot
moist
air
out
(60-­‐80ºC)
DesorpAon/Charging
Mode
(Thermal
Storage)
*As
water
desorbs,
steam
is
released
and
the
weight
of
the
adsorber
container
decreases.
CONFIDENTIAL-­‐
John
N.
Skardon
Canned
Heat
-­‐
Concept:

7. Output:
Dry
hot/moist
air
depending
on
the
mode
of
operaAon.
Water
circulaAon
to
generate
humid
air.
Storage
mode
:
Input
heated
air
from
fan
100-­‐250ºC.
GeneraAon
mode
:
Input
90%
RH
air
using
a
fan
powered
by
solar
VenAlator
powered
by
solar
energy
for
hot
air
generaAon.
Renewable
solar
energy.
CONFIDENTIAL-­‐
John
N.
Skardon
Adsorber
filled
Cylinder
(CH)
Commercial
CH
-­‐
Energy
Storage
System

8. Simple
Product
Concept
•Energy
storage
appliance
•Modular/expandable
energy
storage
“bank”.
•Room
Heater.
•Emergency
Heat
for
car,
truck,
first
responder.
•Seasonal
heat
storage.
•Carbon
credits.
A
20kg
unit
can
store
about
1KW
indefinitely
at
room
temp.
Unit
must
be
kept
air
Nght
during
storage
(valves
closed)
CONFIDENTIAL-­‐
John
N.
Skardon
Summary: