Process heat above about 400 °C is a large share of industrial energy use and is hard to electrify directly. High-temperature storage lets electric heating run on cheap or renewable hours while the process runs continuously.
Technology choice follows the operating temperature, cycling, material compatibility and the economics of each application.
Key facts
- Range
- ≈ 400 to 1,300 °C
- Media
- Salts, bricks, ceramics, particles
- Users
- Steel, cement, glass, chemicals
- Key risk
- Materials and thermal cycling
High-temperature storage technologies9
- Molten nitrate salt storage
- Molten chloride salt storage
- Solid-particle thermal storage
- Ceramic storage systems
- Refractory brick storage
- Rock-bed and packed-bed systems
- Concrete-based thermal storage
- High-temperature phase-change materials
- Thermochemical reaction storage
High-temperature applications11
- Steel manufacturing
- Cement and lime production
- Glass manufacturing
- Aluminium and metal processing
- Ceramics and refractory industries
- Chemical and petrochemical plants
- Fertiliser production
- Pulp and paper industries
- Food processing
- Industrial steam networks
- High-temperature process heating
High-temperature system engineering9
- Thermal insulation and refractory design
- High-temperature storage vessels
- Thermal expansion management
- Heat-transfer fluid selection
- Corrosion and material compatibility
- Heat exchangers and circulation systems
- Thermal cycling and fatigue assessment
- Temperature measurement and control
- Safety and pressure-system engineering
Related calculators
Calculators are available to staff / admin only.
Related topics
- Solid MediaCheap, abundant solids store heat at high temperatures for thermal batteries, kiln and furnace heat and steam.
- Molten SaltNitrate salts stored between ≈ 290 and 565 °C in hot and cold tanks deliver hours of dispatchable heat and power.
- Industrial HeatStorage matched to each industry's temperature, operating cycle and heat-delivery form — steam, hot air, hot oil or hot water.
- Thermal BatteryIntegrated systems that turn electricity — often cheap renewable power — into stored high-temperature heat for steam, hot air or power.
Project & partnership desk
Planning High-Temperature?
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