Small-CCHP Packaged System with Innovative Quick-Response, Compact, and High-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage
A highly flexible thermal energy storage system integrated with a combined cooling, heating, and power system.
Element 16 Technologies, Inc
Recipient
Glendale, CA
Recipient Location
25th
Senate District
43rd
Assembly District
$1,500,000
Amount Spent
Completed
Project Status
Project Result
The project team successfully demonstrated and installed the Combined Cooling, Heat and Power with sulfur based Thermal Energy Storage at a commercial facility in Arcadia, CA. The system measured an average charge and discharge rates of 12.6 kWh and 27.6 kWh with a calculated thermal efficiency of 85%, meeting the project objectives. The annual natural gas savings was calculated at $7,000 to $9,000 with a minimum payback period of 8.7 years, while it reduces GHG emissions by 30 to 40 tons per year. The project ended on March 2022, and have submitted their final report which is currently under review.
The Issue
In California, approximately 30% of natural gas is used for residential and commercial applications and is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions; meanwhile at least 30% of summer peak electricity load in California is due to residential and commercial air conditioning. High peak electrical use for building cooling systems is costly to ratepayers, but often unavoidable due to the high summer temperatures in California.
Project Innovation
The purpose of this project is to develop and demonstrate a low-cost, quick response, small footprint, and highly flexible sulfur-based thermal energy storage (SuTES) technology for integration with traditional combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP). This project aims to expand applications for CCHP systems at many more residential and commercial buildings and improve project economics at smaller scales.
Project Goals
Project Benefits
This project will benefit California natural gas IOU ratepayers by demonstrating that thermal energy storage retrofits to existing buildings can be economical, reduce peak demand, and improve integrated system efficiency.
Affordability
The CCHP-TES is estimated to have a minimum payback period of 8 years with an annual natural gas savings of $7,000 to $9,000. The system also reduces 30-40 tons of GHG emission per year.
Environmental Sustainability
Due to more efficient natural gas usage, small CCHP systems have the potential to significantly reduce GHG emissions compared to standalone power and heating systems.
Reliability
If successful, the SuTES system will enable increased deployment of small CCHP systems, reducing local system loads and increasing local generation capacity which will lead to greater reliability.
Key Project Members
Hamarz Aryafar
Subrecipients
Exponent Failure Analysis Associates
Brad Alan LLC.
Intertek USA Inc.
Match Partners
Element 16 Technologies, Inc
