Thermally-driven solar air conditioning (TSAC)

687061eb-8e86-4a3f-b841-47f737023d4e

Closed

EPSRC
EPSRC
EPSRC
EPSRC
EPSRC

£1,012,180

Aug. 31, 2017

Feb. 29, 2020

To deliver compact thermally-driven air conditioning through a totally new innovative route. In this novel air conditioning (A/C) system two metal hydride slurries will be continuously cycled and assessed for its potential as a new solar cooling technology. In order to establish whether this approach has practical and economic viability a prototype system will be constructed and evaluated against recognised performance indicators. In theory two thermochemically coupled metal hydrides can be used to transform sustainable thermal energy sources into sources of cooling. This has been attempted using a batch process involving two large hydride beds but with limited success. It is possible that by suspending the metal hydrides in an inert liquid and circulating them between the heat source and sink that a continuous operation can be achieved. This is advantageous as it would reduce the size of the system, reduce the mass of metal hydride by several orders of magnitude, improve heat transfer and lead to higher operational efficiencies.

Potential Impact:
A novel A/C system, in which two metal hydride slurries are continuously cycled, will be evaluated for its potential as a new solar cooling technology. This will help reduce the thermal energy demand from fossil sources and facilitate within the UK a more rapid growth of, and a more sustainable, low carbon energy market.
Beneficiaries -How they will benefit?

Academia
New scientific discoveries through dissemination in journals at conferences
- New understanding of solar A/C technologies and the behaviour of metal hydride slurries.
- Stimulate more activity in the study of A/C and refrigeration.
- UK Industry New opportunities for the commercialisation of A/C technologies.
- New learning on the most viable scale thermally driven A/C systems for commercialisation.
- Understanding of the optimisation of thermally driven A/C technologies.
- New learning on how thermochemical systems can be used to transform waste heat unto cooling.

Policy makers
- Growth opportunities for UK industry to supplying technological solutions for international A/C markets.

Society
Benefit from new A/C technologies that will lead to a reduction in carbon emissions and their associated adverse impact on the climate.
- Benefit from economic growth related to a growing international A/C market.