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Title: Overview of the US industrial thermal energy storage program

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6805057

In the US the industrial sector presently accounts for over 35% of the nation's total energy consumption and this fraction is expected to rise to almost 50% within the next 20 y. Thus, energy conservation efforts in this sector are important in achieving a rational US energy future. Thermal energy storage can contribute to industrial conservation efforts directed at saving premium (gas and oil) fuels, which is a priority national need. This can be done by using storage to allow the recycling of industrial reject heat to reduce primary energy consumption or to allow alternate fuels to replace gas and oil. Industrial thermal energy storage efforts include three major areas: in-plant reuse of industrial reject heat; external reuse of industrial reject heat for applications in the industrial or buildings sector; and use of alternate fuels to replace gas and oil. The program currently includes engineering field tests in the brick and aluminum industries. In addition, technology transfer activities are underway in the pulp and paper industry. These activities include all three major areas mentioned above. Efforts are being initiated in the area of advanced TES systems development and implementation. It is anticipated that this work will encompass phase change and higher temperature applications using form-stable polyethylenes, molten salt, and other advanced TES system concepts.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
OSTI ID:
6805057
Report Number(s):
CONF-810423-2
Resource Relation:
Conference: 1. International Energy Agency (IEA) conference on new energy conservation technologies and their commercialization, Berlin, F.R. Germany, 6 Apr 1981
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English