[Gasification] Glaubers Salts for Thermal Storage

[LarenCorie]

Since just after WWII, brilliant scientists, like Maria Telkes,
have dedicated much of their research life to coming up with
a good Solar heat storage system, using Glauber salts, or any
other phase change material. Literally all have been astounding
failures for various reasons, except for paraffin.   The problem
with Glauber salts is that they stop working after relatively few
cycles, then the solidified crystals act as insulation to keep the
good material from working.  People keep talking about the
stuff, as if it works in the real world.  It is a great dream, but
decades of tries have failed. The modern cyber term for it is:
"vapor ware"    As a professional designer of Solar houses,
specializing in heat storage systems, I use real-world, high
functioning thermal storages, for wood heat and Solar, in
my "Thermal Attic" houses. I use thousands of small mylar
containers, filled with plain old water, as both the thermal
mass, and as the heat exchangers. I also use 55gal drums
when I need additional, longer term storage. I hope that,
someday, there will be a functional, cost-effective, phase
change material (I suspect it will be beads of paraffin, to
mix in with my water storage), but for now, the closest
thing to a free lunch is plain old water, in freeze
proof containers.

-Laren Corie-
Natural Solar Building Design Since 1975
www.ThermalAttic.com

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