Thermal energy storage using Zeolite as the storage medium for micro combined heat and power systems

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The College of New Caledonia and Egenolf Alternative Energy Inc. are initiating a new applied researchpartnership to design and fabricate a thermal energy storage (TES) zeolite-based battery for use in microcombined heat and power (CHP) systems. Synthetically produced zeolite can hold 3-4 times more thermalenergy than water; therefore, the potentially resulting TES can be a container a quarter the size of aconventional hot water storage tank. Egenolf Alternative Energy Inc. predicts that incorporating a compact andlightweight zeolite thermal battery could double the market size for their CHP systems - primarily due toindustrial use in remote logging and mining camps.This project will focus on the following research and development topics: (i) Develop a unique prototypethermal battery to increase the efficiency of micro CHP systems, and (ii) Quantify the effect of using zeolite asa storage medium for improving the heat capacity of the proposed TES battery. College students in the Schoolof Trades and Technologies will develop enhanced technical skills in computer aided design, finite elementanalysis and 3D-printing techniques.