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Thermally-Activated Cooling from Low-Temperature Waste Heat

Award Information
Agency: Department of Energy
Branch: N/A
Contract: DE-FG02-04ER83887
Agency Tracking Number: 75859S04-I
Amount: $100,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: 41
Solicitation Number: DOE/SC-0075
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2004
Award Year: 2004
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
176 Waltham Street
Watertown, MA 02472
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: Yes
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Joseph Gerstmann
 Dr.
 (617) 926-5045
 joeg@amtimail.com
Business Contact
 Sherif Sidhom
Title: Mr.
Phone: (617) 926-6700
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

75859 Absorption refrigeration is the only currently available method that utilizes low-temperature waste heat to provide cooling. Unfortunately, absorption cooling systems for commercial and small industrial applications are relatively large and expensive, require costly-to-maintain cooling towers, and are difficult to interface with conventional vapor-compression refrigeration equipment. This project will develop a thermally-activated, Rankine free-piston expander-compressor to supplement the compressor output of conventional mechanically-driven vapor-compression refrigeration, thereby reducing its power consumption. ¿Smart¿ valves and translational counterweights will be used to overcome the limitations of previous designs, thereby providing efficient and vibration-free thermally-activated refrigeration. Phase I will demonstrate feasibility by modeling the dynamics and thermodynamics of the proposed device, projecting its performance over a range of operating conditions, and producing a preliminary design. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The technology should benefit commercial and small industrial energy consumers by providing a practical and cost-effective way to recover useful energy from low-temperature waste heat. Applications include internal combustion engines and microturbine exhaust; boiler, furnace, and oven exhaust; low-pressure steam; solar; and other heat sources with heat output temperatures of 200¿F to 250¿F.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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