CHEMICAL HEAT ACCUMULATORS - A NEW APPROACH TO ACCUMULATING LOW POTENTIAL HEAT

The first presentation of new composite Chemical Heat Accumulation mat erials based on granulated open-porous matrix filled with a hygroscopi c substance is given. At storing heat, the materials operate in a reve rsible hydration/dehydration mode. When crystalline hydrates of simple salts are used as the hygroscopic substance, the new materials allow to reach the heat storing capacity up to 2000 kJ kg(-1) even for accum ulation of low temperature heat (of circa 20-40 degrees C). The materi als also possess improved properties for mass and heat transfer. All t hese make a serious advantage of these materials in comparison with th ose using a latent melting-solidification heat as well as with zeolite s capable of reversible hydration/dehydration. The new materials can b e widely used in energy efficient and freons-less air conditioning dev ices, for cooling the electronic units, fire-extinguishing and some ot her applications.