28
Feature
Ice tank production prototype .
The dairy industry , including farms and manufacturing plants , benefits greatly from thermal storage systems . Cooling milk is a critical process to prevent spoilage , and thermal storage provides a batch processing solution that effectively manages the pasteurisation and cooling stages . From the initial stages at the farm with the cows to the storage and packaging processes , thermal storage plays a pivotal role in maintaining the quality and safety of dairy products .
Over time , thermal storage technology expanded beyond its dairy farming origins and found applications in commercial HVAC applications . The ability to shift power usage from peak to off-peak hours became an attractive proposition for utilities around the world seeking to optimise their operations – though this has not occurred in South Africa . In countries with time-ofuse tariffs , thermal storage systems allowed building owners to take advantage of lower electricity rates during off-peak periods , resulting in cost savings .
Sufficient incentives are currently not available in South Africa , but Van der Merwe notes that it has nonetheless found resonance locally for ‘ cooling back up systems ’ in the wake of loadshedding . What limits the market from exponential growth in this regard is uncertainty as to how bad loadshedding will get . There is no point in installing a thermal storage system which produces two hours ’ back up if the power is off for four hours . It would be the wrong solution in that case , he explains . “ Internationally , thermal ice storage primarily focuses on cooling applications rather than heating . The technology involves creating and storing ice to meet cooling demands during peak
28
RACA Journal I August 2023 www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za