Experimental investigations on prototype heat storage units utilizing stable supercooling of sodium acetate trihydrate mixtures

Laboratory tests of two heat storage units based on the principle of stable supercooling of sodium acetate trihydrate (SAT) mixtures were carried out. One unit was filled with 199.5 kg of SAT with 9% extra water to avoid phase separation of the incongruently melting salt hydrate. The other unit was filled with 220 kg SAT mixture thickened with 1% carboxymethyl cellulose. The heat exchange capacity rate during the charging of the unit with the extra water was significantly higher than for the unit with the thickening agent due to the different levels of convection. The SAT mixtures in the units were stable and supercooled at indoor ambient temperatures for up to two months, after which the units were discharged. The energy discharged after solidification of the supercooled SAT and water mixture was 194 kJ/kg in the first test cycle, dropping to 179 kJ/kg after 20 test cycles. The energy discharged from the unit with SAT and the thickening agent after solidification was stable at 205 kJ/kg over 6 test cycles.