CavaliereVerde
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I think burning paper mache in a stove is much cheaper than going solar.
Sand battery is an excelent solution.
Storing energy as heat is cheap and efficient even if it requires a conversion from electrical energy.
Well the plan is to oversize the domestic solar array, which will take care of day to day consumption. But also to charge a conventional battery back up. Then on exceptional days, divert all the excess energy into the sand battery by way of high temperature resistance heating elements. We are only at the start of the project, but I envisage a battery in the range of say 1-5 Mtr cubed. This would be encased in a concrete bund and insulated. The whole structure would be below ground. Sand is dirt cheap and so it would be much better to oversize it. As the saying goes......what will do more will do less.Yes I know those fins but that is big stuff, it it the reason I linked the DIY version.
How are you doing it both domestic size and efficent?
The real technical challenge is in releasing the stored energy from the sand into something usable, like hot water for domestic use and heating. This needs to be achieved with minimal losses, so closed loop systems must be used. Heat exchangers are the obvious choice, but every aspect must be controlled and monitored. Lots of data needs to be monitored and collected.Well the plan is to oversize the domestic solar array, which will take care of day to day consumption. But also to charge a conventional battery back up. Then on exceptional days, divert all the excess energy into the sand battery by way of high temperature resistance heating elements. We are only at the start of the project, but I envisage a battery in the range of say 1-5 Mtr cubed. This would be encased in a concrete bund and insulated. The whole structure would be below ground. Sand is dirt cheap and so it would be much better to oversize it. As the saying goes......what will do more will do less.