CX-100748 Categorical Exclusion Determination

Advanced Serpentine Heat Exchangers to Minimize the Number of Joints and Leakage in HVAC&R Systems
Award Number: DE-EE0007680
CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.6
Building Technologies Office
Date: 8/11/2016
Location(s): MD
Office(s): Golden Field Office

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to provide federal funding to Optimized Thermal Systems, Inc. (OTS) to develop prototype serpentine heat exchangers that use surface enhancements to achieve equivalent or better performance than current state-of-the-art air conditioning tube-fin heat exchangers while reducing the potential for leakage. Project work would occur at the facilities of OTS in Maryland, Heat Transfer Technologies (HTT) in Illinois, and United Technologies Research Center (UTRC) in Connecticut.

Project activities include design, optimization, tooling development, prototyping, testing, and commercialization planning for the prototype heat exchangers. Testing of the heat exchangers would involve using water as refrigerant at OTS facilities. This testing would not involve moving parts, but would include piping equipment that would be exposed to relatively high water flow rates and pressures. Staff involved in the testing will be trained in the use of standard laboratory safety equipment. The project also involves benchtop testing of brazing methods, assembly of coils using brazing methods, and physical testing of coils using cyclic testing and other forms of analysis. Benchtop brazing and some assembly would be conducted at HTT facilities. Physical testing would occur at OTS and will be covered by the same safety requirements as above. HTT would ensure the health of all employees working on the project through training and proper protective equipment. Once the prototype system is complete, OTS and UTRC would test a conventional baseline system and the modified system to compare capacity, efficiency, and cost. Project activities do not require any modifications to existing facilities, ground disturbing activities, or installation of equipment outdoors. There would be no change in the use, mission, or operation of any of the existing facilities involved in this project. Waste would be recycled to the extent possible and if not recyclable, would be disposed of in accordance with governing regulations of the state and county where the project work is occurring. Any refrigerants used in the project would be reclaimed and recycled in accordance with regulations. DOE does not anticipate any impacts to resources of concern due to the proposed activities of the project.