The Water – Energy Research Lab (WERL) is an experimental research group … Contact online >>
The Water – Energy Research Lab (WERL) is an experimental research group
Combining two commonly found salts could help store clean energy as heat that can
Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( ) or https:// means you''ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Photo from Google Earth
Location:Albany, Georgia
Download the full case studyfor additional fast facts.
In 2015, the Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) in Albany, Georgia, beat back stifling summer heat with an advanced geothermal heat pump (GHP) project. Called a borehole thermal energy storage (BTES) system, the project advances conventional technology by using underground thermal energy storage.
The base designed the BTES system as a U.S. Department of Defense Energy Security Technology Certificate Program (ESTCP) demonstration project to replace the conventional HVAC system for Building 3700, a 168,000 square foot center for U.S. Marine Corps Logistics Command supporting nearly 800 base personnel.
The building''s BTES system is a specialized geothermal closed-loop heat exchanger designed to efficiently store "cold" in the subsurface. The subsurface functions as a thermal battery, storing heat or cold underground, which increases the energy efficiency of the system over conventional geothermal heat pump HVAC systems.
The BTES system is adjacent to the building and spans two acres. The area consists of a compact, radial loop well field with 306 wells each 210 feet deep. A bullseye pattern of concentric thermal zones in the well field maximizes storage efficiency.
In the building''s mechanical room, five modular heat recovery geothermal heat pumps replaced two centrifugal chillers and two condensing boilers. Once Georgia''s cooling season begins, these geothermal heat pumps withdraw the cool previously stored underground to efficiently keep MCLB personnel comfortable during hot Georgia summers.
Two adiabatic dry coolers that provide indirect evaporative cooling replaced the conventional HVAC cooling tower. This equipment stores cold winter air in the loop for summer use and rejects excess loop heat in the summer. Replacing the aging and maintenance-intensive conventional equipment saved 4.2 million gallons of HVAC water consumption during the first year of operation and eliminated the need for a water treatment system.
Taming the Heat By Constructing an Efficient Next-Gen Geothermal Heat Pump.When summer rages in southwest Georgia, MCLB personnel beat the heat with an efficient next-generation geothermal heat pump. The system uses 306 geothermal boreholes, zoned in concentric circles with reversing valves. Each borehole is 210 feet deep. During (left) and after (right) construction. Photos from Google Earth
The BTES project continues to keep personnel cool while providing energy savings and reducing water consumption. Impressed with the results, MCLB Albany funded three new BTES systems to serve an additional 10 buildings and replace their conventional HVAC systems.
"I believe in geothermal heat pump technology to the point that I have one in my home. At the end of the day the closed-loop geothermal heat exchanger is plastic pipe and grout with no moving parts. It''s underground, highly resilient, and less complicated than a boiler, condensing unit, or cooling tower. It''s a good technology for almost any situation and geology. This project presented a wonderful opportunity to push ground loop design forward by showcasing an advanced design that makes a good system architecture great."
Charles Hammock; Andrews, Hammock, & Powell, Inc.; Principal Investigator for Marine Corp Logistics Base-Albany BTES System
July 23, 2024By Tess Malone
Georgia Tech researchers in the Woodruff School are developing more efficient heating systems that don''t rely on fossil fuels. They demonstrated that combining two commonly found salts could help store clean energy as heat; this can be used for heating buildings or integrated with a heat pump for cooling buildings.
North Avenue Atlanta, GA 30332 +1 404.894.2000
GWW School of Mechanical Engineering801 Ferst Dr, Atlanta, GA 30332Phone: 404-894-3200
As the world faces the twin challenges of climate change and increasing energy consumption, researchers at Georgia Tech''s George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering are developing groundbreaking thermal energy storage solutions using common salts. This innovative approach could help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and pave the way for a more sustainable future.
In the quest for efficient heating systems that do not rely on traditional, polluting fuels, Georgia Tech researchers have demonstrated that combining two commonly found salts can effectively store clean energy as heat.
This stored heat can then be utilized for warming buildings or even integrated with heat pumps to provide cooling.
The study, published in the Journal of Energy Storage under the title “Thermochemical Energy Storage Using Salt Mixtures With Improved Hydration Kinetics and Cycling Stability,” showed promising potential for the salts in question.
The mechanics of heat storage employed by the researchers hinge on a simple reversible chemical reaction. The forward reaction absorbs and stores heat, while the reverse reaction releases it, making the stored heat available for use in a building.
Assistant Professor Akanksha Menon, a key figure in this research, began her journey into thermal energy storage during her doctoral studies. Upon joining Georgia Tech and establishing the Water-Energy Research Lab (WERL), Menon delved deeper into both the technology and materials for energy storage, striving to integrate them into building systems.
About Georgia thermal energy storage
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Georgia thermal energy storage have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient Georgia thermal energy storage for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various Georgia thermal energy storage featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
