On 29–30 May 2024, the HEATERNAL project consortium, composed of 11 partners, gathered at the University of Gent, in Gent (Belgium), to review the project’s progress.
The meeting began with a strategic overview and updates on project management, followed by presentations on advances in storage materials, thermo-mechanical design, and techno-economic evaluations. Key technical sessions focused on the characterisation of refractory bricks and phase-change materials (PCMs), as well as thermal optimisation and modelling work for the energy storage unit. The launch of the prototype design marked the beginning of a new phase, including early-stage additive manufacturing of 3D thermal storage systems.
During the General Assembly, partners discussed the selection of a use case, which will influence design and integration efforts, as well as the integration of PCMs into the prototype. The second day was devoted to collaborative working sessions, where teams focused on design, testing, and validation challenges.
Leitat presented progress in the selection of filament material and the development of a ceramic composition in collaboration with TCID to enable the intended prototype geometries. They shared initial samples and explained that they are currently testing the manufacturability of the selected composition, while discussions on unit assembly and PCM integration are ongoing.
Beyond the technical sessions, consortium members had the opportunity to visit the University of Gent (29 May).
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