Thermal Mass Water Storage Tanks

Warm and chilled water enters and exits the tank through diffusers located at the top and bottom of the tank.

Thermal mass water storage tanks.

By definition thermal mass is equivalent to thermal capacitance heat capacity. We have tanks from 120 gallons up to 5 000 gallons for large solar heating systems of wood boiler system. It also releases this heat energy faster when you really need it. Thermal storage tanks are used in solar heating systems and wood boilers where you need to store the produced heat in water for later use.

Water stores 3 to 4 times as many btu s per lb. As rock or masonry. It is kept liquid at 288 c 550 f in an insulated cold storage tank. In other words it is the ability of a body to store thermal energy.

A rocket mass heater will burn cleanly no creosote to condense inside flue channels and heat a masonry or cob mass warming the water while absorbing some heat from the water during the day. Thermal energy chilled water or hot water is produced during periods of off peak electrical demand or usage collected in a thermal energy storage tank then withdrawn and distributed to the facility during on peak periods. No water coils or piping logistics needed. Water contained in low cost non pressurized cylinders has proven to be the most practical and effective approach to the capture and storage of thermal energy for space and hot water heating.

If you check the specific thermal capacity value for various materials you will notice that water has a remarkably high thermal mass. With proper insulation of the tank the thermal energy can be usefully stored for up to a week. It is then sent to a hot storage tank.