Storage apparatus for temporarily storing thermal energy, comprising - a thermally insulated storage vessel for holding a storage medium , - at least one heat exchanger unit (3, 3', 3", 3''') which is arranged in the storage vessel , can have at least one heat exchanger medium flow through it, is subdivided into segments (S, S1, S2, S3) and is configured to convert the at least one heat exchanger medium into different vertical positions of the storage vessel , - a number of supply lines (5, 5', 5 s1 , 5 s2 , 5 s3 ) for supplying and/or discharging the at least one heat exchanger medium, wherein at least one supply line (5 s1 , 5 s2 , 5 s3 ) is connected to one of the segments (S, S1, S2, S3) in each case, - a shut-off device for each supply line (5 s1 , 5 s2 , 5 s3 ) connected to a segment, - at least one first temperature sensor for capturing a first temperature T1 of the at least one heat exchanger medium on a side of the respective shut-off device facing away from the storage vessel , and - at least one second temperature sensor (8, 8 s1 , 8 s2 , 8 s3 ), in the region of each vertical position in which a segment (S, S1, S2, S3) is situated, for capturing a local second temperature T2 of the storage medium , characterized in that the storage apparatus comprises a control and regulating unit for controlling and/or regulating the shut-off device , wherein the control and regulating unit captures the temperatures of the heat exchanger medium T1 and, in a manner dependent on the vertical position, of the storage medium T2 in order to form a difference, and the vertical position or the associated supply lines for feeding the heat exchanger medium into the heat exchanger unit and for discharging the heat exchanger medium from the heat exchanger unit can be determined, wherein the shut-off device is provided as open for the purpose of feeding in and channelling out the supply lines used, wherein there is provision for the other supply lines (5 s1 , 5 s2 , 5 s3 ) to be closed and kept closed. - a thermally insulated storage vessel for holding a storage medium , - at least one heat exchanger unit (3, 3', 3", 3''') which is arranged in the storage vessel , can have at least one heat exchanger medium flow through it, is subdivided into segments (S, S1, S2, S3) and is configured to convert the at least one heat exchanger medium into different vertical positions of the storage vessel , - a number of supply lines (5, 5', 5 s1 , 5 s2 , 5 s3 ) for supplying and/or discharging the at least one heat exchanger medium, wherein at least one supply line (5 s1 , 5 s2 , 5 s3 ) is connected to one of the segments (S, S1, S2, S3) in each case, - a shut-off device for each supply line (5 s1 , 5 s2 , 5 s3 ) connected to a segment, - at least one first temperature sensor for capturing a first temperature T1 of the at least one heat exchanger medium on a side of the respective shut-off device facing away from the storage vessel , and - at least one second temperature sensor (8, 8 s1 , 8 s2 , 8 s3 ), in the region of each vertical position in which a segment (S, S1, S2, S3) is situated, for capturing a local second temperature T2 of the storage medium , characterized in that the storage apparatus comprises a control and regulating unit for controlling and/or regulating the shut-off device , wherein the control and regulating unit captures the temperatures of the heat exchanger medium T1 and, in a manner dependent on the vertical position, of the storage medium T2 in order to form a difference, and the vertical position or the associated supply lines for feeding the heat exchanger medium into the heat exchanger unit and for discharging the heat exchanger medium from the heat exchanger unit can be determined, wherein the shut-off device is provided as open for the purpose of feeding in and channelling out the supply lines used, wherein there is provision for the other supply lines (5 s1 , 5 s2 , 5 s3 ) to be closed and kept closed. <EOS>