Thermal storage box becomes solar container material

A number of materials will work as storage media in home, farm or small business solar heating systems; but only three are generally recommended at this time--rock, water (or water-antifreeze mixtures) and a phase-change chemical substance called Glauber's salt. Phase change material is the most preferred thermal energy storage system because of its high-energy storage density. The low thermal conductivity is the critical problem in phase change material that can be overcome by integrating metallic foam, carbon fiber, and metallic fins in the phase change. Solar energy storage insulation boxes aren't just fancy containers; they're the unsung heroes preventing energy leaks that cost the global economy $9 billion annually. Included are two worksheets (with examples)-one for determining how much heat storage you will likely need, and the other for finding out how much you might be able to cut costs by proper insulation. Listed at the end of this publication are available Purdue Extension publications that deal with.