Energetic, environmental and economic aspects of thermal energy storage systems for cooling capacity

Thermal energy storage (TES) systems for cooling capacity and their applications are examined from the perspectives of energy savings, environmental impact and economics. Reductions possible through TES in energy use and environmental pollution levels are discussed in detail and highlighted with illustrative case studies of actual systems. The importance of using exergy analysis to obtain more realistic and meaningful assessments than the conventional energy analysis of the efficiency and performance of TES systems is demonstrated. The results indicate that cold TES can play a significant role in meeting society’s preferences for more efficient, environmentally benign and economic energy use in various sectors, and appears to be an appropriate technology for addressing the mismatches that often occur between the times of energy supply and demand.