Vincent O'Brien of Copper Industries (Ireland) Ltd presented on innovative thermal energy storage technologies developed through collaborations with the University of Ulster. This included the MaxiPod thermal store, which can provide up to 38 kW of domestic hot water while maintaining temperature, and the HotHead stratifying cylinder, which exhibits increased stratification and solar collector efficiency. Copper Industries is commissioning an in-house test facility through a KTP project to characterize the performance of various thermal energy storage systems and integrate renewables with combi-systems more effectively.

1. Innovative thermal energy
storage technologies
Vincent O’Brien
Copper Industries (Ireland) Ltd
Vincent@copperindustries.co.uk

2. Copper Industries and UU
collaborations
University of Ulster’s Centre for
Sustainable Technologies
Copper Industries (Ireland) Ltd
• Based in Toome, Northern Ireland
• Manufacturer of hot water
cylinders, buffer vessels and
thermal stores from domestic to
commercial/industrial scale with
over 13 years of experience

3. Introduction to hot water
systems
System types
• Domestic hot water
• Low temperature hot water heating
systems
• Combined but separate systems
System options
• Direct/indirect
• Vented/unvented
• Gravity fed/mechanically pump
Storage issues
• Safe storage and supply temperature
• Legionnaire’s disease and bacterial
growth
• Efficient energy transfer and storage
• Material compatibility/suitability

4. The need for change
Environmental focus
• A higher recognition of the need
for the responsible use of energy
Social focus
• Fuel poverty and higher fuel costs
Customer focus
• Quality product providing fast,
efficient hot water
Market focus
• Effective integration of renewables
into new build and retrofit
installations

5. Copper Industries and UU
collaborations
Invest NI Innovation vouchers:
• MaxiPod – thermal store
• HotHead – stratifying cylinder
Knowledge Transfer Partnership to
develop an innovative thermal energy
storage system for future/renewable
technologies through the
establishment of a novel R&D facility

6. The MaxiPod thermal
store - description
• Maintains the store at
temperature
• Instantaneous response to heating
and hot water demand
• Mains pressure hot water
• Indirect hot water supply reduces
the risk of exposure to Legionella
• Efficient multi-fuel system

7. The MaxiPod thermal
store – performance
• “Can provide up to 38 kW of
domestic hot water demand while
still maintaining suitable flow rates
and volumes that would be
suitable to satisfy all appliances in
a modern domestic setting.”
• “Simplifies the method by which
conventional fossil fuel and
renewable heating systems can be
integrated to provide both space
heating and domestic hot water,
whilst reducing the potential of
legionella infection.”

8. The HotHead stratifying
cylinder - description
• Rapid and efficient response to
varying levels energy inputs,
durations and flow rates
• Energy is delivered where it is
most useful
• Decreases start-up and recovery
times

9. The HotHead stratifying
cylinder - performance
• “exhibits significantly increased
stratification”
• When tested using an evacuated
tube solar collector, there was a
“4% increase in the efficiency of
the solar collector”
• More rapid response to input
energy
• The hottest part of the cylinder is
closer to the point of use and not
the coil

10. KTP project
Currently commissioning a
comprehensive in-house test facility
with the capacity to characterise:
• Charging
• Discharging
• Re-charging
• Storage
• Heat exchanger performance
For:
• Vented
• Unvented
• Direct
• Indirect
• Renewable integration

11. Where to next?
Improved heat exchanger performance
• Faster response
• Safer supply
Improved cylinder storage
• Stratified storage
• Improved retention
• Optimizing multi-fuel interactions
New materials and applications
• Potential of cost effective phase
change materials
• Integrating renewable energies
with combi-systems

12. Thank you for your attention
Vincent@copperindustries.co.uk