Compare different thermal energy storage technologies for industrial and HVAC applications.

Thermal energy storage (TES) shifts cooling/heating load to off-peak periods. Chilled water storage is simplest but requires large tank volumes. Ice storage reduces volume by 6-8x using latent heat but needs lower chiller temperatures reducing COP. Eutectic salt systems offer intermediate storage density and moderate temperatures. Phase change materials (PCMs) in encapsulated or slurry form provide high energy density at specific temperatures. For high-temperature applications, molten salts (solar thermal), concrete blocks, or packed beds of rocks store sensible heat. Selection criteria include storage duration, temperature requirements, space constraints, charge/discharge rates, cycling life, and economics. Ice storage suits commercial HVAC with significant demand charges.