+VeCool Why choose the +veCOOL system? Reduces chance of ‘freezing’ or ‘over-cooling’. Respond to fluctuating environmental temperatures Power source is used to replace passive cooling, no use of preconditioned ice packs or phase change material packs to act as a buffer Battery power, but can be topped up from various power sources including renewable or vehicle/generator charging systems in transit. Use only the required energy to keep cool, ideal for reuse and recharge. Removable battery pack, allows instant replacement with fully charged pack. If pre-conditioning in cold store, fully charged battery can be installed afterwards to maintain battery capacity and life. System design for re-use across many hundreds of journeys. Data rich system allowing massive opportunity for analysis of journeys, temperature profiles, success rates, to improve ongoing and future logistics planning.
Tespp The development of a thermochemical energy storage pumping pipe Overview The project aims to develop a high-performance thermochemical energy storage pumping pipe (TESPP) system using off-peak power and renewable sources to minimise energy demands from fossil fuels. The TESPP system is based on the application of a unique adsorption heat pipe which incorporates a reactor section (adsorbent bed) and condenser/evaporator refrigerant section. This configuration would improve the heat transfer and enhance the overall performance of the energy storage system. The heat pipes can be charged using a vapour compression heat pump. Off-peak power electricity and renewable energy sources such as wind can be used to power the heat pump. Ambient or ground energy can be used as a heat source for the heat pump. A range of adsorbent materials including zeolites and nano-composite adsorbent materials and water can be used the working media. Whilst the development of TESPP is technology driven from an advanced materials perspective, the delivery of a viable TESPP also synergistically addresses challenge led issues.
Electroteg ELECTROTEG aims to develop a low temperature thermoelectric electro-deposition process that will enable the commercial manufacture of fully dense nano-structured thermo-electric materials in-situ, eliminating the need for material consolidation, machining and hand assembly. Marine engine OEMs, engine marinisers, exhaust system manufacturers, operators and users are increasingly seeking to enhance the efficiency of vessels to reduce fuel usage and CO2 emissions, both for economic reasons and to satisfy legislative requirements. One very attractive way of achieving this is to use Thermo-Electric Generators (TEGs) to generate electrical power from the high-quality heat available from the exhaust system. Material advances (in particular in nano-structuring) have produced a step change in the thermoelectric performance over the last 5 years which has led to some waste heat energy recovery technologies being explored further for the automotive sector. As a result, there is increased market pull and the market for these TEGs is growing considerably. However, the relatively high cost of large-scale manufacture due to labour intensive material consolidation, machining and hand assembly is hampering widespread commercialisation. It is therefore becoming clear that unless cost-effective manufacturing technologies for the production of the thermo-electric material and their integration into efficient devices are developed then mass production will be exported to low-cost economies.
Viper 2 Re-examining the use of thermal energy in engine management VIPER 2 builds on the success of the VIPER project. Using conventional concepts of engine management in thermal energy, the engine will be re-examined using state-of-the-art simulation tools and a novel test engine which will allow the heat available to be directed to the most import components such as the cylinder liner walls. Some of the heat that will inevitably escape down the exhaust will be converted into electricity using a thermoelectric generator. In the longer term, if all the project targets are met, it is believed that a 5% improvement in fuel economy is possible through the conversion and management of heat energy. The challenge is to achieve a dramatic cost reduction of the TEG components along with an improvement in function while increasing technology readiness level (TRL) from 2-3 and manufacturing readiness level (MRL) 3 to 6-7 and 5 respectively. This research programme, scheduled to start in early 2014, is enabled by a £2 million grant from the UK government’s Technology Strategy Board (TSB), and builds on an earlier programme which was also co-funded by the TSB.
Innovteg The aim of the INNOVTEG project is to create nano-structured thermo-electric materials based on (low cost and abundant) sulphur with carefully controlled structure and properties. By doing this our consortium will create a step-change in the application of thermo-electric technologies for large-scale solar renewable applications in the EU by developing thermo-electric at massively reduced cost (€5.20/kg). The technologies developed will be particularly suited to building integrated renewable systems. In so doing, the InnovTEG technology will offer greatly improved environmental performance due to improved reduced dependence on fossil fuels, reduced emissions (CO2, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulates) at a cost that is affordable to the end-user. The project results are expected to benefit other SMEs in the renewable energy, materials processing and electronics industry sectors. Bismuth Telluride has been at the core of commercial thermoelectric materials for low grade energy and compact cooling applications since the 1950s. A new material is needed to disrupt the sustainability issues associated with Tellurium, InnovTEG takes a significant step towards this goal by bringing together an experienced and high class consortium.
Titan The development of a thermoacoustic (TAG) prototype TITAN is a feasibility study, its objective is to develop a small-scale ThermoAcoustic Generator (or TAG) prototype. Thermoacoustics (TA) is a relatively new technology which is concerned, for the purposes of TITAN, with a direct conversion of internal heat into sound. The intention is that TITAN will use this energy conversion to produce a novel TAG for useful electricity. The fundamental of the TAG is of an adapted (thermodynamic) Stirling cycle. In practice this device will be used for capturing as much waste heat as is viable from the exhaust of marine vessels.
Printeg The development of a manufacturing process to enable high volume production of TEGs PrinTEG’s key aim is the development of an automation process to provide high volume production at low cost to satisfy the demand of TEG applications. The expected outcome will be the production of TEGs capable of delivering 600W-1kW power. Relying on the background intellectual property and new upcoming foreground intellectual property, PrinTEG will allow the commercialisation of TEGs for high-volume applications as for the automotive industry. Therefore, PrinTEG will provide a low cost, highly flexible manufacturing technology to produce a broad range of high-efficient TE devices in the first instance for automotive OEMs and then for a wider range of markets including Marine, Solar Renewables and Industrial waste heat.
Samulet II A battery-less inspection system for aeroplanes The project is led by the Advanced Repair Technologies group with the project aspiration to prove the potential to implement a novel inspection systems for preventative and predictive maintenance. Within the aerospace sector, aftermarket services account for over fifty percent of revenue generated by aero engine manufacturers. Central to this is the ability to inspect and repair high unit cost components, both on-platform and in repair and overhaul facilities, in order to safely return them to operational service. With the drive towards ever-increasingly complex aero-engine architectures, highly engineered components and advanced material systems, many existing repair processes will not be capable of meeting the new aftermarket need. This project will therefore develop and demonstrate three key advanced repair technologies, including the cost-efficient high-integrity repair of blisks, on-platform repair and structural repair of composite components. These repair processes must be capable of being applied to complex geometries and accommodate component variation resulting from service operation.
Intrsts Inter-seasonal thermochemical energy storage for industrial buildings The projects aims to develop an open inter–seasonal thermochemical energy storage system for use within a large industrial building. The system will store low grade heat from a transpired solar collector using a thermochemical medium stored within a suitable containment system. When required, heat will be generated from the storage system through the use of moisture laden air which will pass over the storage medium. The heat released will be distributed through the nominated building via a heating and ventilation system (HVAC). The key elements of the project will include: The selection and development of suitable thermochemical materials on a small scale, and, the scaling up of the technology to be incorporated into a nominated industrial building for monitoring purposes.
Jospel A novel energy efficient EV climate system Overview Research shows that a major barrier to the purchase of electric vehicles (EVs) is the limited operating range compared to the majority of the available car models on the market. The main ways to increase the operating range of an electric car are: to increase the engine efficiency, to improve the battery efficiency, to reduce the mass of the car and/or, to improve the energy use in the car.
