Brick Energy Storage Battery Manufacturer

One company is aiming to sidestep the complications that come with chemical batteries…with a brick battery. And another company''s weapon of choice is a crushed volcanic rock battery. Talk about going back to basics to store massive amounts of energy. ... the mechanics of thermal energy storage and Rondo''s "heat battery," about why ...

How does a brick store heat?

Thousands of tons of brick are heated directly by this thermal radiation, and store energy for hours or days with very low loss (less than 1% per day). Rondo’s Heat Battery stores heat the way it’s been stored for centuries. Millions of tons of this kind of brick have been used around the world for centuries to store high-temperature heat.

Can a thermal battery provide clean industrial heat?

To provide clean industrial heat but avoid the variability often associated with renewable energy, a company called Rondo makes a thermal battery, storing renewable-energy heat in bricks. In this episode, Shayle talks to John O’Donnell, co-founder and CEO of Rondo Energy, a thermal storage startup.

How does thermal radiation heat a brick?

Thermal radiation warms bricks at temperatures up to 1,500°C, storing heat. Heat is delivered whenever it’s needed, on demand, start-stop or continuously. When heat is wanted, air flows up through the brick stack and is superheated to over 1000°C. The heat delivery rate is adjusted easily by changing air flow.

Could cheap iron-based batteries help save energy?

Cheap, long-lasting iron-based batteries could help even out renewable energy supplies and expand the use of clean power. How the final heat then is used will depend on the commercial process, O’Donnell says, though many facilities will probably use it to turn water into high-pressure steam.

How do iron-based batteries work?

When it’s time to use the trapped heat, fans blow air through the bricks. The air can reach temperatures of up to 1,000 °C (1,800 °F) as it travels through the gaps. Cheap, long-lasting iron-based batteries could help even out renewable energy supplies and expand the use of clean power.

Does SCG make brick?

SCG already manufactures this type of brick with some renown; last fall, it joined Rondo’s Series A round as an investor. SCG brought brick-manufacturing expertise to the table (plus an appetite for clean industrial heat at its own cement factories).