Encapsulated Ice* Thermal Energy Storage

Use of electricity continues to grow in the United States and throughout the world. The costs of installing new generation facilities has risen to the point that it is prudent to examine alternatives. These costs are not only measured in terms of very significant dollar amounts, but there are also social costs such as the burning of limited oil and gas resources, and the problems of locating generating stations near populated areas. Because of the cost of new capacity, and because there is existing capacity available during off peak hours, the answer to avoiding the social and economic costs of new generation is storage. Storage is the bridge between supply and demand, and many acceptable options for storage exist today. One recent advancement in the area of storage involves the concept of Encapsulated Ice for cooling storage in air conditioning systems. The advancement lies in the practicality of the concept, and the ability of Encapsulated Ice storage to grow into widespread acceptance by the building industry. The ultimate objective of any technology is to become accepted for widespread use through successful integration into current practice, and not burden the four major players in building design and construction: 1) the building owner, 2) architect and general contractor (builder), 3) mechanical (HVAC) designer, and 4) system operators. The encapsulated ice concept is attractive to each of these groups to warrant widespread implementation.