The cold
Principle of ice storage
The FAFCO ice storage, the ICEBAT, is a system of submerged tube exchangers. It uses the solidification of water into ice to store cold in the form of “latent heat”. ».
Water is indeed the best phase change material (PCM) for cold storage: available everywhere, economical and without impact on the environment, water has the greatest latent heat of all known liquids. For specific applications, FAFCO offers 2 other PCMs for positive and negative temperature storage, with phase changes at +10°C and -10°C.
During the charging phase, the cold brought by the glycol water circulating through the exchangers transforms the water stored in the ICEBAT into ice.
In the discharge phase, the customer’s hot fluid is cooled by passing through FAFCO exchangers trapped in ice.
ICEBATS are 8 times more compact than chilled water storage of equivalent capacity.
Advantages
Reduction of the electrical connection power.
Optimization of energy consumption for the air-conditioning of buildings.
Emergency cooling capacity in case of power failure.
Reduction of the power of the refrigeration units.
Reduced environmental impact.
Comparisons of ice storage technologies
Non-pressurized tank
Heat exchange :
Glycol water sprayed on the balls from the top of the tank.
Sprayed ball heat exchanger
Stored energy : 45 kWh par m3
Characteristics of the storage tank :
Any size, shape and material.
Insulation and sealing carried out on site.
Stacking height of balls up to 10m.
Pressurized tank
Heat exchange :
Circulation of the glycol water inside the tank and around the immersed balls.
Sprinkler ball heat exchanger
Stored energy : 50 kWh par m3
Characteristics of the storage tank :
Horizontal arrangement, volume per tank of 100 m3 equivalent to 5000 Kwh.
Max. tank diameter: 3m.