Industrial Thermal Energy Storage What Are the Possibilities?

In the United States industrial energy consumption accounts for about 40% of the nation's total energy consumption, and this fraction is likely to rise. Thus, energy conservation efforts in this sector can produce significant national benefits. Much of the U.S. industrial capacity was built in an era of inexpersive energy and is, therefore, not optimized for today's rapidly escalating energy costs. Even though energy costs have not traditionally been a large fraction of total production costs, the industrial sector has a history of increasing energy efficiency, which has been accelerated by recent energy price increases. Much of this recent gain in energy efficiency is credited to low-or-no-cost actions. It appears likely that further significant gains will require capital expenditures to modify or replace existing equipment. Therefore, thermal energy storage (TES) can play an important role in future energy efficiency gains. Thermal energy storage is generally applicable in reject energy recovery and reuse systems where either the energy source or use exhibits a fluctuating pattern of availability or need. It is also applicable when a mismatch occurs between the time that the heat is available and the time it is needed. Presently, steam accumulator TES units are used in the pulp and paper industry. A number of other applications in the iron and steel, brick, clay products and ceramics, food precessing, and cement industries have also been identified as potential candidates for TES technology