sp.ICE Thermal Energy Storage - Flexible Cold from the Container

Highly energy-efficient and cost saving cooling for buildings and industrial processes - flexible installation and integration options in existing air conditioning technology

The sp.ICE ice thermal energy storage system, jointly developed by BEKA and GEFGA Energiesysteme, uses surplus energy from solar and wind power plants to make existing cooling technology more efficient, thereby significantly reducing the energy costs for air conditioning in office buildings and for cooling industrial processes. Other areas of application include district cooling networks, emergency cooling systems, and the secure cooling supply for data centers. The ice storage system's high energy efficiency is based on capillary tube mats, which enable high efficiency and fast response times thanks to their dense arrangement and large heat transfer surface. The system can be installed either as a transportable container or as an underground basin.

Potential uses of our ice storage explained in 4 minutes

Charging time of only 6 hours thanks to the heat exchanger with capillary tube technology

The reason for the sp.ICE's responsiveness is the heat exchanger with capillary tubes. These are arranged very close to each other and thus enable an extremely short charging time of only 6 hours until complete ice formation - and that already at a charging temperature of -4°C.

The heat transfer surface of the sp.ICE energy storage is many times larger than that of conventional ice storage tanks. In addition, the thermal resistance is extremely low. The small pipe diameter enables a high degree of ice filling. The entire storage space around the heat exchanger is uniformly frozen in a short time.

The ice storage system's equally dynamic discharge behavior makes it the perfect emergency cooler for securing cooling requirements in the event of power failures or chiller malfunctions.

Strengths of the sp.ICE energy storage

  • Reduction of electricity costs for cooling
  • Reduction of electrical load peaks
  • Improvement of the coefficient of performance of refrigeration machines
  • Securing the cooling supply, responsive emergency cooler in the event of a power failure
  • Favorable low-load behavior
Spacing of the capillary tubes in the ice storage
Pipe spacing of a conventional ice storage tank [left] compared to the transfer area of the sp.ICE capillary tube system [right]
Chart - sp.ice energy storage charging cycle
Diagram sp.ICE charging cycle

1Ice storage system for energy-efficient building HVAC

Ice thermal storage in HVAC

The sp.ICE energy storage system is charged with surplus energy from solar or wind power, or with low-cost nighttime electricity, and provides air conditioning for buildings during the day. This reduces peak loads and aligns capacities with average cooling requirements, leading to considerable savings in air conditioning technology and energy consumption. The sp.ICE can be easily integrated into existing cooling systems, so that even with increasing cooling requirements, no investment in new cooling machines is necessary.

The sp.ICE is ideal for cost saving HVAC in:

  • Office buildings
  • Administration buildings
  • Data center
  • Hotels
  • Hospitals
  • Cinemas
  • Theatres and concert halls
  • Museums
  • Congress centres
  • Supermarkets, shopping centres, galleries
  • Exhibition and multipurpose halls

Ice storage projects

Building projects with BEKA heating and cooling ceilings

More projects at sp.ICE

2Ice storage for the generation of industrial process cooling

Industrial processes in breweries, milk processing plants, chemical industry, and pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities often have fluctuating cooling demands that depend on the process. Using the dynamic sp.ICE can reduce electrical operating costs, minimize the size of refrigeration systems, and prevent peak loads on the power supply. Additionally, the ice storage system can serve as an emergency cooler, ensuring that temperature-critical processes remain cooled during a power failure.

The sp.ICE is used in:

  • Breweries
  • Vegetable processing plants
  • Food logistics
  • Clean rooms for the production of medical devices
  • Pharmaceutical production
  • Industrial production
Beer bottling - cooling of industrial processes

3Ice thermal energy storage for green power plants, use in district cooling grids

The amount of electricity generated from renewable energy sources, such as solar, hydroelectric, and wind, can fluctuate considerably. Peaks in energy supply and demand rarely coincide. To make economical use of surplus electricity, energy storage systems are needed.

Thanks to its short charging times, the sp.ICE ice energy storage system is ideal for storing excess electricity in the form of cold energy, which can then be fed into cooling processes and cooling networks at a later point in time. This not only utilizes surplus electricity, but also allows for the economically appropriate dimensioning of cooling systems by eliminating the need for energy-intensive refrigeration machines. In addition, the reduction in fluctuations relieves the strain on the power grids.

For use in:

  • District cooling grids
  • Central cooling stations
image-3722

4Cold storage for fail-safe emergency cooling systems

Ice storage for emergency cooling of data centers

The sp.ICE's short discharge times make it particularly suitable for emergency cooling systems that need to respond quickly in the event of a power failure. The 10-foot container version of the sp.ICE can supply a server room with a cooling requirement of 25 kW with cooling capacity for 40 hours.

Emergency coolers are used in:

  • Data centers
  • Operating theatres
  • Process engineering

5Cold local heating for energy-efficient heating and cooling

The sp.ICE ice storage system is also suitable as a heat source for cold local heating networks. In contrast to conventional district heating systems, which operate at high temperatures, cold local heating uses low flow temperatures between 10 and 20°C, which are raised to the required heating temperature in a decentralized manner using heat pumps located close to the consumers. Due to the small difference to the outside temperature, heat losses in the network are significantly reduced and the system can be powered entirely by renewable energy sources.

Ice storage systems are used in cold local heating networks to either cover short-term energy requirements or store environmental energy for seasonal use. These networks also enable the simultaneous provision of cooling for building air conditioning or process cooling. The heat gained in this process can be fed back into the network. Energy losses are comparatively low.

Cold local heating for:

  • Residential areas
  • Hospitals
  • Universities

 

Cold local heating with ice storage
Image: freepik

Modular ice storage system

The heat exchanger with capillary tube mats enables an extremely high specific power density and a compact design of the cold storage unit. In addition to use in stationary containers, the compact design also allows for use in transportable containers. The container design is available in standard dimensions of 10 ft, 20 ft, and 40 ft with capacities ranging from 1,280 kW to 4,900 kW. The heat exchanger modules can be combined if additional storage capacity is required for cooling networks. Project-specific special sizes with customized capacities can also be manufactured.

Installation heat exchanger unit

Ice thermal storage - block of capillary tube mats
Capillary tube mats - heart of sp.ICE
Ice energy storage with capillary tube mats as heat exchangers
Precise loading of the container
View into a BEKA ice storage container with capillary tube mats
View into the ice storage container
Ice thermal storage for thermal conditioning of buildings
Ice energy storage container for flexible outdoor installation

Dynamic thermal ice storage for efficient cold production

Product brochure

sp.ICE - Energy storage system with capillary tube mats [3 MB]

How much cooling capacity does your project require?

Are you planning to modernise your building air conditioning or cooling systems? Our engineers provide support in integrating ice thermal storage systems into the existing HVAC technology and in calculating the required cooling capacity.

By the way: The transfer of the cooling capacity to the room climate is particularly energy-efficient in combination with a BEKA cooling ceiling. Our radiant cooling systems with integrated capillary tube mats have similar advantages as the ice energy storage: high efficiency, fast reaction behavior and even cold and heat distribution thanks to large heat exchange surfaces.

Ceiling heating and ceiling cooling - one system, two functions