A mathematical model for an ice storage buried in the ground is presented and validated with experimental results of one full operation year of a pilot plant with a 75 m3 ice storage. The ice storage was designed with heat exchangers that can be de-iced and it was developed for heating applications using a combined solar thermal and heat pump system. Because of the inherent coupling between the ice storage and the ground, a ground model was developed and coupled with the ice storage for the validation.

SPF Institute for Solar Technology