Investigation of Alternate Types of Water-Storage Components to Be Utilized in Conjunction with the ACES System

摘要

This report is directed toward incorporation of the ACES (Annual Cycle Energy System) thermal storage component (water tank) into residential buildings. Two major areas are addressed: (1) cost of the tank, and (2) integration with the construction project. The report assesses nationwide tank building capability, and average costs are given (six geographic adjustment factors are included in order to reflect regional-cost variations). Exclusive of traditional wood-stave and welded steel tanks, costs of free-standing tanks were found to average $2.00/cu. ft. for a 500-cu. ft. tank and $1.37/cu. ft. for a 3000-cu. ft. tank. The least-costly tanks are found to be those which are field constructed and fully integrated with the project design. Utilizing traditional materials and procedures (masonry and concrete) offers the greatest flexibility and lowest cost. Such integration can create cost savings of approximately 50% since load bearing walls can fulfill additional structural (foundation) requirements. The least costly method of tank construction currently available was found to be ''foam-form block'', a proprietary system using preshaped polystyrene open cell blocks between which are placed reinforcing steel and concrete. (ERA citation 03:040823)