Solar container and heat storage materials

A number of materials will work as storage media in home, farm or small business solar heating systems; but only three are generally recommended at this time--rock, water (or water-antifreeze mixtures) and a phase-change chemical substance called Glauber's salt. Phase change material is the most preferred thermal energy storage system because of its high-energy storage density. The low thermal conductivity is the critical problem in phase change material that can be overcome by integrating metallic foam, carbon fiber, and metallic fins in the phase change. This capability transforms intermittent solar collection into a continuous source of thermal or electrical power. Concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) plants utilize TES to increase flexibility so they can be used as “peaker” plants that supply electricity.