[en] Thermal energy storage is a technology under investigation since the early 1970s. Since then, numerous new applications have been found and much work has been done to bring this technology to the market. Nevertheless, the materials used either for latent or for sensible storage were mostly investigated 30 years ago, and the research has lead to improvement in their performance under different conditions of applications. In those years a significant number of new materials were developed in many fields other than storage and energy, but a great effort to characterize and classify these materials was done. Taking into account the fact that thousands of materials are known and a large number of new materials are developed every year, the authors use the methodology for materials selection developed by Prof. Ashby to give an overview of other materials suitable to be used in thermal energy storage. Sensible heat storage at temperatures between 150 and 200 C is defined as a case study and two different scenarios were considered: long term sensible heat storage and short term sensible heat storage. (author)

[en] Despite the strong request coming from the CSP industry, the design and synthesis of new materials with enhanced heat capacity is still suffering from the lack of a fundamental knowledge on the heat capacity enhancement mechanisms. New materials obtained by adding nanoparticles to nitrates have been investigated, but almost exclusively from the experimental point of view. In this theoretical study we will illustrate, for the first time, the mechanisms generating the variation of heat capacity in nanomaterials (NMs) and, accordingly, we will give indications on the design criteria of new materials with improved thermal properties. Starting from a comprehensive set of molecular dynamics calculations, we analyse the results via ad hoc-developed relations on non-ideal mixtures of nanoparticles in bulky materials. These goals are reached by studying silica nanoparticles in nitrates, which are prototype materials for TES. The density profiles of the atoms at the silica/KNO₃ interface show the formation of liquid like interfaces in the solid phase, and of solid-like interfaces in the liquid phase. These characteristics of the interfaces translate in a cP enhancement of the solid nanomaterial, and in a cP decrease of the liquid nanomaterial with respect to the bulk suspending KNO₃

No abstract available

[en] The phase change materials (PCMs) have ability to store and release energy over a narrow range of temperature making these materials potential aspirants for energy redistribution. Microencapsulation of the PCM overcomes the limitations faced by the direct incorporation of the PCM into the base fluid for cool thermal energy storage applications. In this study, the microencapsulation of the dimethyl adipate as peM using organic melamine formaldehyde as shell material has been carried out through polymerization technique. The as-prepared microencapsulated PCM (MPCM) was characterized using the FESEM, FTIR, DSC and TGA techniques. The microstructural analysis carried out using FESEM as depicted in the article infer that, the MPCM being formed exhibited good surface morphology and the microparticles were almost spherical in shape with an average size of 2.8 μm

[en] A study was conducted to assess the environmental impacts of aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES). Rational procedures to assess the impacts of seasonal thermal energy storage on the eco-system have yet to be developed, particularly for aquifer systems. Eight countries (Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA) have participated in aquifer thermal energy storage development in a cooperative research and development program under the aegis of the International Energy Agency. Details of research work that has been completed are presented. Benefits of ATES include: less reliance on non-renewable fuels; less environmental degradation; less generation of nuclear fuel waste; greater utilization of available energy; potential for harnessing solar energy; seasonal storage aspects; and decreased potential for groundwater contamination compared to individual heat pump use. Disadvantages include potential geo-thermal reactions and microbiological changes; and increased potential for aquifer contamination from improper design and execution. Rationalizing environmental assessment, rational procedures, water chemistry considerations, well clogging, scaling and corrosion, and microorganisms in ATES sytems are discussed. 52 refs., 10 figs., 3 tabs

[en] Recently, electronic and electrical products have problems how to reduce heat in trend reducing size and increasing speed. heat pipes worked by latent heats can solve problems for effective and quiet electronic applications. Heat Pipes have to be suitably designed for the external conditions due to showing optimum performance. it has influence on efficiency of heat pipes to the exterior structure changed by length, bending angle, diameter. Designing heat pipes has depended on experience from trial and error. this method wasted too many resources, but can't guarantee efficiency. to prevent those wastes, this study aims at making the thermal transfer coefficient predicting efficiency. In this study, the thermal transfer coefficient has been made from experimental results that used variables - lengths between heat source and radiation, bending angles, diameters of heat pipes. variables become non-dimensional in modeling process for making the coefficient

[en] SMES (Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage) is an emerging technology offering tremendous potential benefits to the utility industry. San Diego Gas ampersand Electric (SDG ampersand E) and Bechtel are leading a team of companies and national laboratories working towards design and construction of the world's first demonstration facility for large, commercial SMES for enhancing transmission stability in the Southwestern United States

[en] The Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1987 (NWPAA) authorized the DOE to site, construct, and operate Monitored Retrievable Storage. The Modular Vault Dry Store is a technology which has been in commercial operation in the United Kingdom for 20 years. Recently, this technology has been adapted to the requirements of Light Water Reactor Spent Fuel. This technology is ideally suited for use in the US DOE's Monitored Retrievable Storage (MRS) Program. It is available now for deployment, meeting all the requirements of a MRS

[en] Finding suitable accomodations for the temporary storage and permanent disposal of this nation's low- and high-level radioactive waste is proving an ever more difficult task in this era of volatile technology and science debate over the merits of the nuclear fuel cycle. Local constituencies become deeply immersed in the complex debate whether the site is chosen through a technical site selection process or is a voluntary entry. Rural communities with candidate sites need to initially shift their focus away from this, often acrimonious, debate; instead, the first discussion priority for such rural communities should be to develop a dynamic vision of their own economic and environmental future. The second discussion priority should be to determine if the array of accompanying incentives and benefits hosting this facility would afford the community the opportunity for vision fulfillment. If so, total focus should, then, be given to understanding and resolving to the satisfaction of the constituents issues related to nuclear technology, isolation of radioactive materials, management of risk, storage and disposal facility need, perceived and actual risk, oversight and power sharing authority, engineered safety barriers, and public trust. Too often, the nuclear-related science and technology debate is first, and the pragmatic discussion concerning the vision of the future is never accomplished

[en] In a resounding show of support for the development of a private monitored retrievable storage (MRS) facility for the storage of spent commercial nuclear fuel, 33 utilities and two nuclear industry contractors have signed on with the Mescalero Apache Tribe and Northern States Power Company to further explore such a project. Representatives from 34 utilities gathered on the Mescalero Apache Reservation in southern New Mexico on March 10-11 to hear the tribe's proposal for a privately owned and operated MRS. The preliminary business plan developed for the project sets forth the terms of facility use for utilities that are interested in joining, estimates implementation costs, and describes storage capacity requirements. The Mescaleros would have majority ownership in the venture, and a board of directors would represent equity holders. Completion of the project would be contingent on the ability of NSP and the Mescaleros to site and license the facility; to agree on a design; to finish construction and begin operation; to ensure an adequate system for transport of spent fuel to the site; and to plan for site remediation