It’s time to take a fresh look at the topic of heat batteries, as wind and solar demand more and more energy storage attention. This could because MIT Technology suggests we need to look further than just decarbonizing electricity generation. However, we’ll admit we are equally keen to discover more about storing energy in bricks. How well we remember those warm bricks, after they lay in the sun all day long when we were kids.
The Operating Principles of Heat Batteries
Many industries require large amounts of heat to drive manufacturing processes. Much of this energy traditionally comes from electricity, or natural gas burners. We were surprised to learn from MIT Technology that those processes contribute 25% of worldwide carbon emissions.
Wind and solar could replace fossil fuel and gas, if they delivered consistent power for factories, but they can’t. That’s why we need energy storage to smooth renewable energy out, and substitute for it when wind and solar are unavailable. Batteries are helping, but they do have significant cost implications.
Heat batteries, on the other hand could be easier to upscale, and could theoretically withstand an almost infinite number of cycles. They could, at least in principle, relieve pressure on utility grids by converting their heat back into electricity. But perhaps the clincher is this technology, on paper at least, appears far simpler and cheaper than storage batteries.
Storing Energy in Construction Bricks
We came across an interesting idea we would like to share, although we can’t guarantee any particular supplier. Many clay products are able to store heat. Here we think of the bricks in a pizza oven, ceramic cookware, and brick walls of buildings warming up on hot summer days. So the idea of using specialist heat-storage bricks appears to makes sense.
The system in the diagram above, heats a stack of bricks using electricity during off-peak periods, when utility prices are lower. Air flows through the stack when the user requires the heat for manufacturing, or another purpose. The heat transfer could be almost instantaneous, depending on the temperature required.
More Information
Large Scale Hydrogen Storage For UK Grid
