Solar heating system capable of long term storage

[Mike Lucey]

This could be good news for householders and the environment.

'Researchers at the University of Stuttgart are preparing to test a solar heating system capable of long term storage as part of "Solspaces," a three-year project that kicked off in March 2012. The heating concept uses a solar thermal system in conjunction with a sorption tank for storing heat from solar collectors throughout the warmer months that can then be released when the mercury drops'.

The article may be located here,
http://www.gizmag.com/solspace-longterm-solar-heat/29996/

This development is something I will be following with interest

Mike

[cotty]

The link doesn't work for me...

[ArCAD-UK]

Ditto on the link.

Isn't this close to a perpetual motion engine? I can appreciate how thermal mass works but to store enough energy for months, well that seems like a tall order. Nearest thing I can equate to it might be underground water storage tanks but even then average ground temperature is still only ~12 degrees so long term cooling would play its part.

I would love it to work but I'm not holding my breath, although some might wish that I would.

[Mike Lucey]

Sorry about the broken link Carsten. I've fixed it now and here is the link to the Uni site with German text, http://www.itw.uni-stuttgart.de/forschung/projekte/aktuell/solspaces.html

I'd appreciate any further information you may be able to gleen from the Uni site.

[cotty]

@mike lucey said:

I'd appreciate any further information you may be able to gleen from the Uni site.

I've compared the information and it seems that there are more in the English text, sorry, no more details...