Thermal Tank™ is The best Thermal Battery
Superior Design and Material offers unmatched Performance and VariabilityWhy Best?
Our Thermal Storage Tank, engineered as a thermal battery, is the global leader in thermal energy storage, establishing PowerPanel as the headquarters for thermal energy. This leadership stems from two core drivers: thermal storage and thermal energy capture, which have been validated by industry-leading magazines for their exceptional energy retention. Invented by Garth Schultz, the tank transcends traditional storage solutions through innovative design, advanced materials, and superior performance. When paired with PowerPanel’s hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) panels, which capture 84% of available solar energy (23% as electricity, ~61% as thermal energy), the thermal battery optimizes energy utilization, reduces costs, and supports decarbonization.
By banking energy during off-peak hours and using it during peak times with higher time-of-use (TOU) rates, it helps mitigate daily energy usage fluctuations, resulting in significant savings.
Thermal Storage Explained
PowerPanel’s dominance is driven by its expertise in thermal storage and thermal energy capture:
Thermal Energy Headquarters: Our integrated approach combines advanced thermal storage (Gen₂O tanks) with efficient energy capture (PVT panels), making it the go-to solution for renewable thermal energy systems, as validated by industry-leading magazines for its energy retention capabilities. Efficient heat pumps are used where solar energy is limited.
Banking Energy for Cost Savings: The thermal battery stores energy during off-peak hours when electricity rates are lower (e.g., 10 cents/kWh at night) and deploys it during peak times when rates are higher (e.g., 30 cents/kWh, 2–8 PM). This addresses fluctuations in energy usage, particularly in commercial settings like hotels or hospitals, where demand spikes during peak hours.
Mitigating High TOU Rates: By storing solar thermal energy, waste energy from other sources, or off-peak electricity, the Gen₂O tank avoids costly TOU rates, achieving savings of up to 85% on water heating costs (e.g., from 42 cents/kWh to ~6 cents/kWh, as seen in PowerPanel’s St. Thomas resort case, saving ~$9,000/year).
Design and Material Advantages
The thermal battery leverages cutting-edge engineering and materials:
Lightweight EPP Construction: Unlike heavy steel tanks, the Gen₂O uses recyclable, corrosion-resistant EPP, reducing weight for easy installation in constrained spaces (e.g., rooftops). Its non-degrading properties ensure durability across temperatures (-25°F to 200°F).
Superior Insulation: The 4-inch EPP walls minimize heat loss (~3.6°F/day), outperforming steel tanks (10–20°F/day), critical for banking energy during off-peak periods.
Modular and Daisy-Chained Design: The segmented, modular design allows daisy-chaining for quick expansion, supporting growing energy demands without infrastructure overhauls. This enables easy setup by non-experts, as demonstrated in Puerto Rico installations.
Eco-Friendly and Recyclable: The EPP foam and PVC liner are fully recyclable, reducing environmental impact. The outer skin uses roofing material with a 25–30-year guarantee, enhancing longevity compared to traditional water boilers, which may require multiple replacements.
Unpressurized Design: The unpressurized tank eliminates pressure-related failures, making it an appreciable asset with a longer lifespan than conventional systems.
Working Fluid and Heat Exchanger Design
It is a thermal storage solution, not just a tank, with advanced features:
One-Time Fill Working Fluid
The tank utilizes a one-time fill of water to prevent mineral buildup, a common issue in traditional hot water systems, ensuring consistent performance.
Optimized Fluid
The working fluid (water) in an isolated, non-closed loop with a drain-back design prevents stagnation and overheating, ensuring safety and efficiency.
Immersive Heat Exchanger
An immersive heat exchanger assembly (available in plastic or stainless steel) transfers thermal energy to the working fluid. The nylon design prevents corrosion, even in aggressive water environments like reverse osmosis water in the Caribbean, as only the exchanger’s interior comes into contact with the water.
Protection Against Debris and Cold Energy Storage
The thermal tank addresses environmental challenges and expands functionality:
Debris Protection: To protect against debris in utility water post-power outages, the system integrates filters, such as a self-cleaning five-micron mesh filter specified for the Windbird Passage Hotel by Carla Gautier, safeguarding the heat exchanger.
Cold Energy Storage: The tank supports cold energy storage for air conditioning, using the same air-to-liquid heat pump as a chiller. It provides essential buffering to prevent short cycling in HVAC systems, offering flexibility in installation locations (e.g., indoors or outdoors).
Modular Design Advantages and Longevity
The thermal storage tank modular design and durability set it apart:
Ease of Assembly: even for non-experts, which reduces labor costs and installation time.
Transportation Efficiency: The lightweight construction (under 50 lbs, designed to fit over a shoulder) allows more units per shipping container and eliminates the need for cranes in rooftop installations.
Longevity: The unpressurized design and durable materials (EPP, PVC liner, and roofing-grade outer skin with a 25–30-year guarantee) ensure a lifespan that exceeds that of traditional boilers, reducing replacement costs and enhancing value as an appreciating asset.
System Protections and Fluid Type
Temperature Rating: the tank is rated to 90°C (200°F), with PVT collector temperatures balanced at 55–60°C to optimize electrical and thermal output.
Unpressurized Safety: The unpressurized system with open vents prevents overheating, dissipating excess heat during stagnation.
Fluid Consistency: The same water serves as the fluid in both the PVT collectors and the thermal tank, using an isolated, drain-back design for safety and efficiency.
Variability
Our thermal tank offers unmatched versatility:
Wide Applications: Supports multi-family residential, commercial, and industrial uses, including hot water, space heating, process heat, and cold storage for air conditioning, buffering HVAC systems.
Temperature Flexibility: Handles -25°F to 200°F, suitable for varied climates and applications.
Scalable Configurations: Daisy-chained tanks (350–700 gallons, linked via siphon tubes) allow capacity expansion, meeting growing thermal needs.
Multiple Energy Sources: Stores heat from PVT panels, heat pumps, waste heat (e.g., desuperheaters), or off-peak grid electricity, maximizing TOU savings.
Customizable Operations: Smart controls optimize charging during off-peak hours and discharge during peak periods, tailored to utility rates or application needs.
Hot Water Usage Measurement and Tank Sizing
We ensures precise system design:
Bluebot Tool: a tool for measuring actual hot water consumption, validating usage data to optimize tank sizing and system performance.
Tank Sizes: available sizes (350–700 gallons), with siphon tube connections for linking tanks to increase capacity, ensuring flexibility for various thermal demands.
Tank Installation Considerations
The thermal storage tank solves installation challenges:
Roof-Mounted Tanks: Garth Schultz noted that roof structural integrity is the building engineer’s responsibility, citing robust concrete roofs as suitable. The lightweight EPP design minimizes weight concerns.
Ceiling Height: A 9-foot ceiling is sufficient for installing and servicing a 700-gallon tank, providing space for maneuvering and connections, as clarified by Schultz.
PowerPanel’s Thermal Storage Tank is the world’s best thermal battery, validated by industry experts and magazines for its exceptional energy retention and innovative design by Garth Schultz. As the thermal energy headquarters, PowerPanel excels in thermal storage and energy capture, banking energy during off-peak hours to avoid high TOU rates. Its EPP construction, immersive heat exchanger, and unpressurized, recyclable design ensure durability and eco-friendliness. Debris protection, cold storage capabilities, and hurricane-resistant testing (up to 180 mph) enhance reliability. The modular, daisy-chained design offers unmatched variability, while performance advantages deliver up to 85% cost savings (e.g., $9,000/year in St. Thomas). The tank is the ultimate solution for decarbonization and energy resilience across a wide range of applications.