The Ice Bear: Thermal storage for rooftop air conditioners
The Ice Bear is an emerging thermal storage system for small (5 to 20 ton) rooftop air-conditioning equipment. Now in the pilot installation phase, the system provides partial or full load shifting, by building ice during off-peak hours. Moreover, independent testing shows that the system can operate more efficiently than conventional cooling equipment. Because it is the first thermal storage system designed for unitary air conditioners, it has the potential to fill a significant market gap and to dramatically improve the load shape for commercial air conditioning. Although its commercialization timetable is uncertain, growing interest in load management and broader application of time-of-use electricity pricing work in favor of this technology. Powell Energy Products, developer of the Ice Bear, may bring the product to market independently, or license it to a major manufacturer. One such manufacturer, Lennox Industries, has announced that it is developing a similar product. The economics of rooftop cool storage depends heavily on electricity rate structures. If manufacturer projections of mature market costs prove accurate, paybacks are likely to range from 3 to 5 years in areas with high demand charges or high differentials between off-peak and on-peak electricity prices.
- OSTI ID:
- 55552
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
AIR CONDITIONERS
COLD STORAGE
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
DESIGN
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ELECTRIC POWER
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENERGY MANAGEMENT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLEXIBILITY
HUMIDITY CONTROL
OPERATION
PAYBACK PERIOD
PERFORMANCE
THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT
TIME-OF-USE PRICING