SBIR Phase I: Development of a Low Cost Thermal Storage System Using a Novel Phase Change Material for Use with Solar Thermal and Waste Heat Recovery Systems

这个小型企业创新研究项目将开发一种结合太阳能供热和余热回收的蓄热系统，使能量全年积累，供冬季需要时使用。使用新的相变材料作为储能装置，结合使用冬季和夏季的热能发电，将使典型家庭住宅在可接受的较小存储空间内储存足够的热量是可行的。热能的储存是大规模实施太阳能集热的最大障碍。目前，还不存在合理体积的蓄热的可行选择。其目标是开发一种具有足够储热能力的太阳能供暖系统，以使全年都能产生和储存热量，并用于冬季供暖。在第一阶段，将开发一个原型系统，能够产生和储存300MJ的热量，或者说大约相当于一所住宅冬季每日所需的热量。在这项工作中开发的技术和数据将为开发能够在整个冬季为典型家庭提供供暖的全规模系统提供必要的基础。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力在于使用于空间供暖的本地化太阳能发电成为家庭以及商业、机构和工业建筑的可行选择，成为一种商业实用性。据估计，美国约有4000万栋建筑适合实施太阳能供暖。这意味着美国的制造业机会达到4000亿美元。这一规模的成功实施可带来每年3000亿千瓦时的能源节约，相当于300亿美元的能源成本。

This Small Business Innovation Research Project will develop a thermal storage system combined with solar thermal heating and waste heat recovery allowing energy to be accumulated throughout the year to be used when needed in winter. The use of a new phase change material as the energy storage device, combined with the use of winter and summer heat generation will make feasible the storage of sufficient heat for a typical family residence in an acceptably small storage space. Storage of thermal energy is the single largest barrier to large scale implementation of solar thermal collection. Currently, no viable option exists for heat storage in a reasonable volume. The objective is to develop a solar thermal heating system with sufficient heat storage capacity to allow heat to be generated and stored throughout the year and used to provide heating in winter. During phase I a prototype system capable of generating and storing 300MJ of heat, or roughly the daily heat requirement for a domestic house in winter, will be developed. The techniques and data developed during this work will provide the necessary basis to develop a full scale system capable of providing heating throughout the winter to a typical domestic house. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project lies in making localized solar heat generation for space heating a viable option for domestic as well as commercial, institutional and industrial buildings a commercial practicality. It is estimated that approximately 40 million buildings in the US are suitable for implementation of solar thermal heating. This represents a US-based manufacturing opportunity of $400 billion. Successful implementation on this scale could result in annual energy savings of 300billion kWh corresponding to $30 billion in energy costs.