Seasonal thermal energy storage
Inter-seasonal thermal energy storage also called seasonal thermal energy storage (STES) works in a very similar way to ground source heat pumps in that heat or coolth is store in, effectively, a battery with the main difference being that rather than extracting the existing heat or coolth from the ground via the coupling effect, it actively stores heat in the ground for use many months later.
Most inter-seasonal systems are heating systems that use solar collection to increase the amount of heat energy collected during warmer summer months. The solar collection systems can be relatively simple with a network of pipes laid close to the surface beneath a dark heavy finish, such as black tarmac. As such they can be laid beneath road systems, car parks or playgrounds. Similar to ground source heat pumps, a second system of pipework is installed deeper into the ground, or potentially beneath a buildings foundations.
At a depth of around 7 metres the earth's temperature tends to remain at a natural constant 10 degrees, which is the temperature standard ground source heat pumps run at, in these seasonal systems the extra heat within the solar collectors beneath the surface is pumped down to the deeper levels to achieve a constant temperature of around degrees. The ground loops are specifically designed to be able to take these increased levels of heat and store this over longer periods of time. In the colder winter months when outside temperatures are lower, the heat from the deep pipe systems is extracted via a heat pump and can be used to heat buildings during the colder months.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Coefficient of Performance CoP.
- Dynamic thermal modelling of closed loop geothermal heat pump systems.
- Earth berm.
- Earth bermed buildings.
- Earth to air heat exchangers.
- Energy storage.
- Energy storage for buildings.
- Energy storage - the missing piece?
- Energy targets.
- Environmental policy.
- Emission rates.
- Geothermal pile foundations.
- Geothermal energy.
- Ground coupling effect.
- Ground energy options.
- Ground energy options
- Ground source heat pumps.
- Ground preconditioning of supply air.
- Large scale solar thermal energy.
- Renewable energy sources: how they work and what they deliver: Part 3: Electrically driven heat pumps DG 532 3.
- Thermal labyrinths.
- Sustainability.
- Solar photovoltaics.
- Solar thermal energy.
- The future of UK power generation.
- Thermal labyrinths.
- Wind Energy in the United Kingdom.
[edit] External Links
Featured articles and news
HBPT and BEAMS Jubilees. Book review.
Does the first Labour budget deliver for the built environment?
What does the UK Budget mean for electrical contractors?
Mixed response as business pays, are there silver linings?
A brownfield housing boost for Liverpool
A 56 million investment from Homes England now approved.
Fostering a future-ready workforce through collaboration
Collaborative Futures: Competence, Capability and Capacity, published and available for download.
Considerate Constructors Scheme acquires Building A Safer Future
Acquisition defines a new era for safety in construction.
AT Awards evening 2024; the winners and finalists
Recognising professionals with outstanding achievements.
Reactions to the Autumn Budget announcement
And key elements of the quoted budget to rebuild Britain.
Chancellor of the Exchequer delivers Budget
Repairing, fixing, rebuilding, protecting and strengthening.
Expectation management in building design
Interest, management, occupant satisfaction and the performance gap.
Connecting conservation research and practice with IHBC
State of the art heritage research & practice and guidance.
Innovative Silica Safety Toolkit
Receives funding boost in memory of construction visionary.
Gentle density and the current context of planning changes
How should designers deliver it now as it appears in NPPF.
Sustainable Futures. Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living
More speakers confirmed for BSRIA Briefing 2024.
Making the most of urban land: Brownfield Passports
Policy paper in brief with industry responses welcomed.
The boundaries and networks of the Magonsæte.