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Solution using cooling from a thermal battery charged by a chiller using renewable energy to support dairy products processing and cold logistics.
About
Sustainable cooling, this is what Sunamp thermal battery can offer to help TESCO suppliers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in dairy products production, and cold logistics. With a package including a chiller, a Sunamp thermal battery and a source of renewable energy, milk processing and product delivery will be made in a carbon zero way. Sunamp offer a low carbon solution that can reduce operational cost running chillers during off-peak time to store energy to be used during on peak time, increasing resilience by not fully depending on the grid operation. Sunamp thermal battery differs of the other types of storage by being based on a phase change material. This material stores thermal energy instead of electrical energy, which means that it stores the temperature needed to the milk process and to the logistic. The temperature range of Sunamp PCM goes from -70°C to 285°C, being able to be applied in many different processes. Sunamp phase change material also comes from sustainable supply chain, is non-flammable, recyclable and is designed and tested to operate at least 25 years with a minimum maintenance required. A whole solution that can be on field for a long time. The key innovation of the solution is the Sunamp thermal batteries that use phase change materials (PCM) to store energy for domestic hot water, heating, steam, and cooling applications. Giving more technical information about the technology, melting, and freezing a PCM can stores 3-4 times as much energy in latent heat as the sensible heat of water in a typical thermal storage (i.e., thermal buffering) applications. The generic construction of the battery includes the PCM, and the heat exchanger housed in a sealed enclosure (The Cell). Although the Cell is sealed against ingress of moisture and air, the pressure inside the Cell is around the ambient atmospheric pressure and is fitted with an expansion relief valve. The Cell is insulated using vacuum insulation panels. The outer case and hydraulic connections are designed so that multiple batteries can either be stacked or positioned side by side and then connected either in series or parallel. The polypropylene container containing the heater exchanger is filled with the appropriate phase change material that is prepared in a mixing tank. Sensors and wiring are connected to the controller that sits within the overall casing. Compared with conventional PCM and water based thermal stores, the Sunamp thermal battery technology has the following advantages: a) High flow rates and power ratings (heat exchanger immersed in PCM) b) Additive to PCM and internal design of heat battery eliminates sub-cooling c) PCM Raw materials: Made from by-products of widely deployed industrial processes, non-toxic, and based on inorganic salts, which are non-flammable and with low stable commodity pricing. d) PCM costs < $0.5/kg; complete heat batteries cost under $65/kWh. e) Strong focus on corrosion and permeability (water/ oxygen ingress), resulting in confidence in long lifetime. Over 95% capacity remains after 40,000 accelerated cycles. f) Very low water content, lower water treatment costs, and additional expansion vessels not required. (90 kWh battery has only 70 Litres of water inside). g) Unlike a hot water thermal store, the aspect ratios of Sunamp Heat Battery can be changed without compromising, storage capacity, utilization efficiency and stratification. h) Over 80% of thermal energy is stored in the PCM and the PCM enclosure is at near atmospheric pressure and therefore safety devices associated with pressurised hot water stores will not be required. i) Two independent hydronic circuits, which can be combined where separate and/or simultaneous charging and discharging is not required. Compared with conventional commercial electrical storage, the Sunamp have the following advantages: a) Lifespan tested for over 40.000 cycles (50 years when cycled 2 times/day). b) Sunamp batteries can be charged from multiple thermal sources including boilers, heat pumps, waste heat, electricity (grid or embedded), steam, glycol/water, thermal solar panels and recovered heat. c) At least 2.5 times cheaper than an electric battery. d) Non-flammable substances in the PCM composition. e) Non-toxic substances in the PCM composition. f) Derived from sustainable supply chain
Key Benefits
A low carbon cooling solution for processing and distributing dairy products. The technology also helps to maximize the usage of renewables, when available, and a better usage of the energy from the grid, reducing the peak demand. It allows cooling to be produced when conditions are favorable and used on demand to guarantee a less carbon emission chain. It also allows facilities to use smaller capacity cooling equipment, in this case the storage is charged for a continuous period, reducing recycling operation, which improves energy efficiency, reduces capital costs, and gives resilience in cases of grid problems. When the energy usage is decoupled from the generation, more resilience is seen in the commercial side, by guarantying product offer, and in the grid side, by decompressing the grid for local benefit.
Applications
Sunamp thermal battery included in the cooling solution can be applied in different markets worldwide, especially where renewable energy is available, maximizing the GHG emission reduction. Sunamp cooling package offers resilience and low carbon solution adding a kit of energy efficiency and thermal battery to the milk processing facilities and in the refrigerated trucks. This solution can be replicable to any other regions in a similar situation. As mentioned before, the solution can maximize the usage of renewables and reduce the peak demand on the grid. Thermal storage allows cooling to be produced when conditions are favorable (off-peak) and used on demand, reducing carbon emissions and energy bills. It also allows chillers to be operated over longer periods of time increasing efficiency and reducing capital costs of cooling equipment.