Development of an Automotive Thermal Energy Storage Unit (I: Preliminary Study)

A preliminary study was conducted to develop an automotive thermal energy storage unit for reduction in emissions and for increase in occupants comfort in winter. To prevent thermal storage performance degradation of the thermal storage media some additives were mixed with the base material Bariumhydroxide-octahydrated(Ba(OH)₂·8H₂O), and offers promising degradation-resist characteristics.

The thermal energy storage unit was then optimally designed based on parameter study and empirical analysis. A comparison was made with a commercially available heat battery. Peak power of the developed thermal energy storage unit was about three times higher than that of the existing one.