ECN: Thermal Systems
Thermal Systems
Of the total energy consumption in the built environment, more than 65% is used for low-temperature space and domestic hot water heating. This represents about 20% of the total final energy consumption in the Netherlands. This heat demand can be already reduced strongly by energy saving measures, such as improved insulation or heat recovery. A substantial part of the remaining low-temperature heat can be easily covered by local sources such as ambient or solar heat. In addition, generating the heat locally is more efficient than transporting centrally produced heat.
Two of the technological developments needed to cover the local demand for heat in a sustainable manner are covered within the priority area Thermal Systems: (1) thermal energy storage, and (2) sustainable heat conversion. These topics are covered in more detail below.
Thermal energy storage
The aim of this research topic is to develop long-term compact heat storage technologies to be used in and around buildings. New storage concepts such thermochemical storage are developed to improve time-independence and increased energy density, both of which are essential for newly built (passive) houses as well as the existing building stock.
Our research in this area focuses on the development of on thermochemical materials and reactor concepts, but also includes advanced water- or PCM-based storage concepts. More information on our thermochemical storage research can be found here .
Sustainable heat conversion
Our research on this topic aims to develop novel heat pump technology with increased efficiency and a greater temperature lift, particularly aimed at domestic hot water heating, an area where existing heat pump technologies perform weakly. Sorption, thermochemical, and thermo-acoustic heat pumps are currently being developed at ECN for industrial applications, and their potential for adoption for the built environment is currently under assessment. Functional integration into the building and heating system, and particularly the combination with solar heating and heat recovery are important aspects within this research.
In addition to heating, heat pumps can be used for cooling. Within the topic of sustainable heat conversion, we have developed a sorption chiller, to be used as heat-driven cooling technology within the built environment. A prototype of a 2.5 kW chiller has been developed and is currently being tested in one of ECN’s test dwellings.
Contact
Marco Bakker MSc MTD
T: +31 224 568079
E: m.bakker@ecn.nl
Further reading
- Duurzame energie met thermochemische opslag (Dutch), article in Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Natuurkunde, edition January 2010.
- Characterization of salt hydrates for compact seasonal thermochemical storage , conference paper Effstock 2009, Stockholm.
- R&D of thermochemical reactor concepts to enable seasonal heat storage of solar energy in residential houses , conference paper ASME Energy Sustainability 2009, San Francisco.
- Woningen als energieleverend systeem (Dutch), final report of the EOS-LT research project WAELS.
- Development of a new 2.5 kW adsorption chiller for heat driven cooling , conference paper Solar Air-Conditioning Conference, Palermo, 2009.
Also, information can be found on the Building Future website , the the research collaboration of ECN and TNO regarding energy in the built environment.
