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Cool storage; An old idea meets new needs

Journal Article · · Compressed Air; (United States)
OSTI ID:5342391
When it comes to air-conditioning, cool storage offers benefits to customers and utilities. Under the right conditions, it can cut electric bills and reduce peak loads. Cool storage is sometimes called thermal energy storage or off-peak cooling. It uses water, ice, or eutectic salts to store energy that is produced during offpeak hours. On-peak cooling is then provided by circulating chilled liquid from storage tanks through a building's fan coils or a secondary heat exchanger. Off-peak cooling can be achieved with conventional HVAC Systems. This paper reports that according to the Electric Power Research Institute, owner of commercial buildings can realize savings of 30 percent by using cool storage air conditioning systems. Total savings-including noncooling uses-range from 20 to 50 percent of previous electric bills, depending upon the building, type of cool storage system, and the local utility's billing structure. In fact, the billing structure may be the most relevant feature since savings are based upon shifting a building's cooling load to less expensive off-peak hours.
OSTI ID:
5342391
Journal Information:
Compressed Air; (United States), Journal Name: Compressed Air; (United States) Vol. 97:3; ISSN COAIB; ISSN 0010-4426
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English