Thermal Energy Storage (TES) Systems

Most cold chain systems worldwide rely on backup energy sources such as electric batteries or diesel generators to maintain cooling during grid failures. However, these conventional backup systems have significant limitations:

• Reliability Concerns: Backup systems may fail when they are not used or maintained regularly, a challenge commonly observed in developed markets.
• High Operating Costs: Frequent use of batteries and diesel generators can significantly increase operating expenses, particularly in developing markets.
• Maintenance and Limited Life: Batteries have a finite cycling life, while diesel generators require regular servicing, oil changes and maintenance. Neither solution is inherently designed to efficiently match variable cooling loads.

Thermal Energy Storage: A Better Approach

Thermal Energy Storage (TES) offers an efficient and reliable alternative to conventional backup power systems. It also plays a critical role in integrating solar photovoltaics with cold chain applications.

Solar PV systems typically require either grid electricity or batteries to ensure continuous operation. Batteries, however, can be expensive, have limited life, present safety and fire risks, and are not well suited to handling highly variable cooling requirements.

Inficold addresses these challenges through its award-winning Thermal Energy Storage technology and innovative off-grid solar integration. Inficold's TES systems store cooling in phase change materials (PCM), enabling applications across a broad temperature range of -5°C to +28°C. Inficold has also developed solutions that directly integrate compressors with solar PV, eliminating the need for grid electricity or large electrical battery banks.

As the recipient of the National Technology Award 2019, Inficold is committed to developing efficient, cost-effective, reliable and environmentally responsible cooling solutions for commercial and industrial applications. These include space cooling and heat pumps, as well as temperature-controlled storage for dairy, horticulture, flowers, grains, pulses, fish, meat, eggs, vaccines and pharmaceuticals.

Universal Thermal Energy Storage

Inficold's universal thermal energy storage is designed to seamlessly integrate with a wide range of cooling applications. It stores energy in low-cost, reliable and environmentally friendly phase change materials, including water-to-ice systems. The stored cooling acts as an additional cooling source that can be utilized whenever required.

With no moving parts and no chemical reactions, Inficold's TES units are designed for high reliability and long service life. Their stainless-steel construction supports an expected lifespan of 20+ years.

Key Applications and Benefits

Inficold TES can be deployed across multiple scenarios, including:

• Fast and High-Capacity Cooling
• Improved Product Quality and Temperature Stability
• Maximizing Captive Solar Energy Utilization
• Shifting Cooling Loads Between Peak and Off-Peak Periods
• Reducing Dependence on Grid Electricity
• Eliminating or Reducing Diesel Generator Usage in Weak-Grid Locations
• Providing Reliable Cooling During Power Interruptions

By storing cooling rather than electricity, Inficold's thermal energy storage technology provides a reliable, economical and environmentally responsible approach to modernizing cold chain infrastructure.