• INDUSTRY OUTLOOK •
What is the Best Valve for Thermal Energy Storage Systems?
A detailed analysis of highperformance valves that can meet flow demands, provide efficiency, and harness the full potential of thermal energy storage systems for water utilities and private infrastructure.
• By Bill Moore- Eastern Regional Manager- Cla-Val Company
Thermal energy storage( TES) systems are growing in demand due to their ability to provide cost savings and expand cooling capacity as well as their resiliency and sustainability for commercial and industrial facilities. Simply put, TES systems store thermal energy( chilled water or hot) for later use. This is beneficial by storing excess energy produced during periods of low demand for use during peak times.
These systems are used in centralized campuses, large hospitals, and military installations to meet increased cooling loads without the need to invest in additional chillers, cooling towers, and pumps. Another area of increased demand for these systems is large data centers, which require cooling systems to manage the significant heat generated by their IT equipment.
There are more than 5,300 data centers in the United States, and the market is projected to grow from $ 26.67 billion in 2023 to $ 55.83 billion by 2028, with a compound annual growth rate( CAGR) of 15.92 %. All this demand for TES has put pressure on water utilities and private infrastructure to supply these facilities with large amounts of water.
Valves used in a commercial TES System. These systems contribute to the decarbonization of energy systems – one of the reasons industries and utilities are embracing this new wave.
Integral to the design of a TES system is the proper selection and configuration of valves that control flow and pressures.
Control valves are applied in water production, transmission, and storage facilities. Integral to the design of a TES system is the proper selection and configuration of valves that control flow and pressures. Selecting the proper valves is vital to its performance.
Due to the volume and size of these systems, automatic control valves can provide many advantages over actuated ball or butterfly valves. These benefits include:
Greater Range and Precision of Modulating Control Globe-style automatic control valves have greater rangeability for flow and pressure applications. Due to their linear design, automatic control valves excel at modulating flow and main-
34 Valve World Americas | November 2025 | www. valve-world-americas. com