ENERGY HEAT STORE DEVICE
Field of Invention
My newly patented heat storage device, described as novel with inventive step by the UK Patent Office is a device retailing for £250 which when retrofitted to an existing hot water cylinder, transforms it into a heat store. It can be fitted with minimal changes to the existing pipework in a home. In most cases, it can be fitted in under 15 minutes, by a semi-skilled fitter.
Homes with this device will not demand energy for potable hot water at peak times and they will store surplus energy at off peak times.
Consumers with existing hot water cylinders (5 million)
An existing hot water cylinder with an immersion heater will heat 1/3rd of the water in that cylinder. 1/5th of homes in the UK have existing hot water cylinders which can be converted to store surplus electricity from the grid and move towards grid balancing in the UK.
Consumers with Solar PV (1 million)
For homes with photovoltaic solar arrays, a heat store is a very useful way of storing surplus energy, rather than sell that electricity to the grid. For solar PV installations with no battery storage or export to the grid then a heat store is the only way of store surplus energy.
Consumers with Solar Thermal (200,000?)
When a consumer installs a solar thermal system the addition of a heat storage device will compliment and work in harmony with that system. This allow both grid storage as well solar thermal heat storage in the same tank.
In winter, the heating of homes causes high demand for energy and in particular in the UK, the main use of gas is for central heating. New gas power stations to produce more electricity at peak demand are also being proposed. Bringing off peak energy into the envelope of 20% of homes as well as eliminating peak energy consumption for hot water will help this.
As a first step it would be welcomed if consumers were encouraged to install heat storage devices and for customers with their own photo voltaic energy panels there is a financial incentive to install a heat storage device. Fitting a storage device avoids the cost of a new heat store costing upwards of £1,000. For other consumers with gas boilers there is no financial incentive as the price of gas is the same as off peak electricity.
We are selling devices directly to the public but I also welcome official trials.
Additional Low Cost Heat Stores (and replacing existing gas boilers)
My invention creates the potential of selling low cost heat stores and with multiple heat stores, any home can store enough off peak energy to replace the gas boiler. These heat stores together with my patented micro-pumps can be installed as a retrofit solution in any home.
