Innovative mobile heat store tests are under way

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AGH UST in co-operation with innogy Polska and PEC Geotermia Podhalańska has designed and built a mobile heat store based on phase-change materials. This innovative and non-standard solution will enable storage and transfer of heat obtained from renewable energy sources and will be dedicated to various groups of recipients. Static tests of the heat store have already been completed and soon the mobile store will be tested in real-life conditions while delivering heat to consumers.

As part of the ‘Energy Storage’ project Innogy Polska, in co-operation with AGH UST and Geotermia Podhalańska has developed and built a prototype of a mobile system for storing heat obtained from renewable resources. The device will enable delivery and utilisation of the heat in locations away from the heat production site. The operation of the store is based on phase-change materials, which thanks to phase changes can accumulate significant amount of energy with very small temperature fluctuations.

The mobile store has already undergone first static tests. The next step will be to transfer the heat stored in the mobile store to end users. As the device is flexible in terms of parameter setting, the system could cater for both individual recipients as well as small and large enterprises. In addition, the mobile heat store can be deployed in public facilities or used for the purposes of utilising waste heat by industry. The heat store may have a number of applications for the consumers: it can serve as a primary or secondary source, or a backup store to be relied on in the event of an existing primary source failure.

According to dr Filip Thon, the CEO of innogy Polska: “innogy Polska together with its partners has been developing innovative and environmentally-friendly products for customers. Energy storage is paramount to the development of renewable and decentralised systems. Mobile heat stores open up new potential possibilities for renewable energy sources as well as waste heat utilisation. We believe that this solution may have a truly beneficial impact on the condition of the natural environment.”

“For many years the problems of energy storage have been in the centre of attention of the research staff from the Department of Thermal and Fluid Flow Machines of the AGH UST’s Faculty of Energy and Fuels. Storage Lab – a specialized laboratory dedicated to heat and electrical power storage – has been launched at the Department. The research we are currently conducting emphasizes the applicability of scientific developments. For that reason, we see real life studies as the vital stage of any project development. As regards the ‘Energy storage’ project, our University has been in charge of, among other things, developing a concept design of a mobile heat battery. The flexible nature of the solution enables it to be used for a large group of recipients, also in locations with limited access to heat supply infrastructure” – said Professor Tadeusz Słomka, AGH UST’s Rector.   

Wojciech Ignacok, President of PEC Geotermia Podhalańska S.A., observes: ”One of the Company’s main aims is to reduce the ‘low emission’ levels in the Podhale Region, through the efficient use of geothermal heat for residential heating. Currently, residential properties account for over 70% of all buildings located in the area. Our Company seeks solutions which will allow a more efficient use of geothermal heat. Mobile energy stores recharged from geothermal sources will let us use the heat in locations, where connecting the buildings to any heat supply network is not economically viable. Successful trial followed by further development of this technology will bring us some substantial benefits – they will enable us to better combat the problem of ‘low emission’. And this is what we all are so committed to.”

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