Thermal energy storage systems utilize chilled water produced during off-peak times – typically by making ice at night when energy costs are significantly lower which is then stored in tanks (Fig. 2 below).
Thermal Energy Storage (TES) for chilled water systems can be found in commercial buildings, industrial facilities and in central energy plants that typically serve multiple buildings such as college campuses or medical centers (Fig 1 below).
It uses standard cooling equipment with the addition of an ice-filled storage tank. The ice storage tank is insulated and contains internal baffles or diffusers to maximize heat transfer between the ice inside the tank and the entering and leaving chilled water (Fig. 3 below). Fig.3 TES ice storage tank cut-away view