Lead Performer: University of Maryland – College Park, MD; partner: Lennox International Inc. – Richardson, TX
February 8, 2024
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Lead Performer: University of Maryland – College Park, MD
Partner: Lennox International Inc. – Richardson, TX
DOE Total Funding: $1,259,642
Cost Share: $314,910
Project Term: November 1, 2023 – October 31, 2026
Funding Type: Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers & Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT) – 2022/23
Project Objective
The University of Maryland (UMD) and Lennox International Inc. have teamed up to create a flexible plug-and-play thermal energy storage system (TES) for residential homes that is modular and easy to install using quick-connects. This cross-media TES system (CMTES) will utilize a low-cost polymer heat exchanger and salt-based phase-change material offering high volumetric energy density and good long-term stability to provide efficient and affordable heating and cooling capabilities for homes. A smart microcontroller is onboard that can set charge and discharge schedules based on self-learning building energy models alongside weather forecasts and building heating/cooling demands.
The project will draw upon UMD and Lennox's extensive expertise in thermomechanical design, HVAC system qualification, product development, system optimization, and additive manufacturing to create an affordable and highly effective TES system that can be seamlessly integrated with residential heat pump units. The project’s ultimate goal is the manufacturing of a full-scale prototype unit (30-40 MJ capacity) that can be integrated into a heat pump unit and tested in an industrially relevant environment.
Project Impact
The success of this project has the potential to disrupt the industry with its superior performance, lower capital and operational costs, and an attractive payback period of less than two years, thereby promoting cost competitiveness. The system is about half the size of an outdoor HVAC unit that can be installed by an average homeowner within 30 minutes and is designed to reduce electricity consumption by over 40% and 10% for heating and cooling modes, respectively, while achieving load shifting of over 80% heating demand for five hours and 50% cooling demand for 10 hours. The proposed CMTES is made by a novel custom-design, 3D-printed, low-cost metal and polymer hybrid heat exchanger developed by the University of Maryland. The integration of CMTES with heat pumps can also reduce peak load on the grid, while also supplementing heating needs in cold climates where existing heat pump technologies face challenges. Additionally, the CMTES can be used as an alternative battery for renewable energy sources.
Contacts
DOE Technology Manager: Sven Mumme
Lead Performer: Prof. Amir Shooshtari, University of Maryland
Related Publications
Ayyagari, Veeresh, Gargi Kailkhura, Rafael Mandel, Amir Shooshtari, and Michael Ohadi. "Performance Characterization of a Novel Low-Cost Additively Manufactured PCM-Air Polymer Composite Thermal Energy Storage." In 2022 21st IEEE Intersociety Conference on Thermal and Thermomechanical Phenomena in Electronic Systems (iTherm), pp. 1-9. IEEE, 2022.
Kailkhura, G., Mandel, R. K., Shooshtari, A., & Ohadi, M. (2022). A 1D Reduced-Order Model (ROM) for a Novel Latent Thermal Energy Storage System. Energies, 15(14), 5124.