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The development process of heat batteries presents significant challenges, primarily centered around heat delivery and maintaining a constant temperature. John O'Donnell and Pete Von Behrens wanted to utilize bricks as heat batteries to facilitate industrial heating processes, but required a method to create narrow air passages between the bricks for effective heat transfer. Their initial experiments involved using PAM as a release compound in the molds, which inadvertently produced excess smoke, illustrating the complexities of their innovation journey. Over time, they recognized the importance of refining their methods and material choices to yield a working solution suited for industrial demands.