zlacker

>>PaulHo+(OP)
Perhaps I am missing something; this product already exists as the Sunamp Thermino.

https://sunamp.com/en-gb/hot-water-solutions-thermino-range/

>>chicke+jq1
It also exists, as described in the headline, as a tank of heated water.

The phase change stuff has positives like taking up less physical space but it's also a much less mature tech than storing hot water.

>>ZeroGr+ev1
Indeed.

In the UK there was a unfortunate trend of ripping out these energy storage devices and replacing hot water tanks with on demand electric hot water heating ( only heat the water you need ). And new builds often have no tanks ( as it saves space in the new tiny homes ).

Very short sighted in my view - a very simple way to store energy and everyone uses hot water directly.

>>DrScie+SF1
They don't work well with heat pumps. Heat pumps lose efficiency as the differential increases, so if you try to store heat in a tank, you quickly drop capacity and efficiency.

Versus resistance, which is exactly as efficient at 0°C and 1000°C, and why those storage heaters used to make sense.

(And storage is directly proportional to temperature differential above interior ambient)

>>coryrc+OY3
Isn't it better to heat the water up to a point (let's say 40 or 50 degrees) and to heat it the rest of the way with resistance heating?

>Versus resistance, which is exactly as efficient at 0°C and 1000°C

It isn't. The difference is smaller than for a heatpump tho obviously.

>>modo_m+mp5
Older heat pumps had max temperature limits and did often have resistance heaters to get that last push above 60C. Modern household heat pumps will reach 75C while staying above 100% efficient and can skip the resistance heater.

This is partly due to a change in the refrigerant used.

>>ZeroGr+1O5
> Modern household heat pumps will reach 75C while staying above 100% efficient and can skip the resistance heater.

Is this adequately maintained even as temperatures drop? I was recently considering getting a heatpump in addition to my gas installation but I assume I need to go for more than a bit better than resistance heating during winter for that investment to make sense.