Lead Performer: Oak Ridge National Laboratory – Oak Ridge, TN
June 22, 2023
minute read time
Lead Performer: Oak Ridge National Laboratory – Oak Ridge, TN
Partners:
-- Effecterra
-- Emerson Climate Technologies
-- Optimized Thermal Systems
DOE Total Funding: $2,227,000
Project Term: October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2025
Funding Type: Lab Award
Project Objective
Current U.S. heating and cooling applications rely on either synthetic refrigerants or hydrocarbons/fossil fuels, which contribute significantly to climate issues. In addition, electric heaters are commonly used, which consume excessive amounts of electricity. Recently, efforts have emerged to transition away from these traditional methods of heating and cooling and toward the use of heat pumps for heating, cooling, and domestic hot water production. Current heat pump equipment deployed in the U.S. relies on synthetic refrigerants, which pose long-term viability, safety, and societal concerns. In addition, most heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R) products are designed and purpose built for a specific application. They are, at best, custom designs that do not allow for manufacturing efficiencies and are often predicated on central plant applications, thus not offering siting efficiency and flexibility. The proposed project pursues a concept that deploys a CO2 refrigerant solution (GWP = 1, no safety or environmental concerns) in a modular concept that enables the delivery of heating, cooling and domestic hot water at 100°C while allowing for the inclusion of manufacturing and application efficiencies (i.e., a modular design vs. a custom design).
Project Impact
Through this program, the project team intends to introduce technologies that can offset the inherent inefficiencies in CO2 cooling systems, including direct vapor injection (DVI) compression, ejectors, pressure exchangers, and novel heat exchanger and system design. Further, CO2 provides excellent heat recovery options and is a very efficient working fluid for heating water.
Contacts
DOE Technology Manager: Payam Delgoshaei
Lead Performer: Brian Fricke