As more and more people are looking at ways to reduce their energy costs Advance Appliances discusses the benefits of using a cylinder as a battery.
Q Can I use a cylinder as a battery?
The simple answer here is yes, cylinders can hold and store thermal energy for use later on and studies show that around 9Gw of power can be stored in cylinders up and down the UK today. The question which often comes after this is how can I use that stored energy?
Well on the market today you have many types of hot water cylinders and buffer tanks which all offer different outputs; However most often overlooked is a Thermal Store Cylinder. A Thermal Store Cylinder can store energy which can be used to generate mains pressure domestic hot water and provide heat to either conventional radiators or underfloor heating. In addition, you can fit solar panels and purchase low-cost energy at convenient times to be used later that day for hot water and or space heating.
Q How Does a Thermal Store Work?
A Thermal Store works in reverse when compared to a conventional hot water cylinder, by heating the store of water you take the energy out of the cylinder to heat instantaneous hot water for taps, showers and baths. Then depending on the design of the system you either utilise the body of water for the wet central heating system and create an open vented heating system (referred to as a direct cylinder) or you have a second coil within the cylinder which will create a sealed heating system (referred to as an Indirect cylinder).
With either model you have an Immersion Heater fitted which can be connected to a solar PV divertor to utilise self-generated power or to take advantage of a low-cost tariff.
Q What Heat Sources can be put into a Thermal Store?
Thermal Store Cylinders are very versatile with a large range of options available when it comes to heat sources it is almost anything goes. When advising on the correct Thermal Store for a property always start with the main heat source, this is the primary heat source you will look to use and from there you can decide on the best option available to give you the most efficient system.
The range has products available which will work with natural gas, oil and electric. In addition to this you can utilise self-generated power such as solar PV, solar thermal, biomass boilers and even back boilers on stoves or fires. With a Hetas approved Multifuel Thermal Store you can enjoy mains pressure hot water and a sealed heating system heated primarily by a log burner.
Q How to determine if a Thermal Store will be suitable for a home?
A Thermal Store Cylinder is one of the easiest cylinders to install pretty much anywhere and in any property and still give mains pressure Hot Water for comfort. With the ability to accept almost any heat source they can provide heating, hot water or even both into almost any property. Without requirements for control valves, tundishes and external piping a Thermal Store can give the comfort of a mains pressure cylinder without the installation hassle.
Models which incorporate an electronic fail safe so that over filling or flooding are protected without the need for an external overflow are available. This means that in high rise buildings of multiple occupancy a Thermal Store is the perfect option for mains pressure hot water.
