Thermally-driven solar air conditioning (TSAC)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Faculty of Engineering
Abstract
To deliver compact thermally-driven air conditioning through a totally new innovative route. In this novel air conditioning (A/C) system two metal hydride slurries will be continuously cycled and assessed for its potential as a new solar cooling technology. In order to establish whether this approach has practical and economic viability a prototype system will be constructed and evaluated against recognised performance indicators. In theory two thermochemically coupled metal hydrides can be used to transform sustainable thermal energy sources into sources of cooling. This has been attempted using a batch process involving two large hydride beds but with limited success. It is possible that by suspending the metal hydrides in an inert liquid and circulating them between the heat source and sink that a continuous operation can be achieved. This is advantageous as it would reduce the size of the system, reduce the mass of metal hydride by several orders of magnitude, improve heat transfer and lead to higher operational efficiencies.
Planned Impact
A novel A/C system, in which two metal hydride slurries are continuously cycled, will be evaluated for its potential as a new solar cooling technology. This will help reduce the thermal energy demand from fossil sources and facilitate within the UK a more rapid growth of, and a more sustainable, low carbon energy market.
Beneficiaries -How they will benefit?
Academia
New scientific discoveries through dissemination in journals at conferences
- New understanding of solar A/C technologies and the behaviour of metal hydride slurries.
- Stimulate more activity in the study of A/C and refrigeration.
- UK Industry New opportunities for the commercialisation of A/C technologies.
- New learning on the most viable scale thermally driven A/C systems for commercialisation.
- Understanding of the optimisation of thermally driven A/C technologies.
- New learning on how thermochemical systems can be used to transform waste heat unto cooling.
Policy makers
- Growth opportunities for UK industry to supplying technological solutions for international A/C markets.
Society
Benefit from new A/C technologies that will lead to a reduction in carbon emissions and their associated adverse impact on the climate.
- Benefit from economic growth related to a growing international A/C market.
Beneficiaries -How they will benefit?
Academia
New scientific discoveries through dissemination in journals at conferences
- New understanding of solar A/C technologies and the behaviour of metal hydride slurries.
- Stimulate more activity in the study of A/C and refrigeration.
- UK Industry New opportunities for the commercialisation of A/C technologies.
- New learning on the most viable scale thermally driven A/C systems for commercialisation.
- Understanding of the optimisation of thermally driven A/C technologies.
- New learning on how thermochemical systems can be used to transform waste heat unto cooling.
Policy makers
- Growth opportunities for UK industry to supplying technological solutions for international A/C markets.
Society
Benefit from new A/C technologies that will lead to a reduction in carbon emissions and their associated adverse impact on the climate.
- Benefit from economic growth related to a growing international A/C market.
Publications
Adams M
(2019)
Modelling a kinetic deviation of the magnesium hydrogenation reaction at conditions close to equilibrium
in International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Adams M
(2022)
Hydride-based thermal energy storage
in Progress in Energy
Bellosta Von Colbe J
(2019)
Application of hydrides in hydrogen storage and compression: Achievements, outlook and perspectives
in International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Dornheim M
(2022)
Research and development of hydrogen carrier based solutions for hydrogen compression and storage
in Progress in Energy
Hirscher M
(2020)
Materials for hydrogen-based energy storage - past, recent progress and future outlook
in Journal of Alloys and Compounds
Manickam K
(2019)
Future perspectives of thermal energy storage with metal hydrides
in International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Mistry P
(2017)
Evolution of catalyst coated atomised magnesium spheres - An alternative thermal storage medium for concentrated solar power applications
in International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Sardari P
(2020)
Discharge of a composite metal foam/phase change material to air heat exchanger for a domestic thermal storage unit
in Renewable Energy
Sardari P
(2019)
Composite metal foam/PCM energy store design for dwelling space air heating
in Energy Conversion and Management
| Description | Developed models for effective two hydride system. Presented at MH2018 Further tests on carrier for the metal hydride and its effect on kinetics critical to application ongoing |
| Exploitation Route | Other designs of thermal systems using hydrides Collaborations with novel methodologies. New sectors requiring heating and cooling explored. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Energy Environment Transport |
| Description | Illustration of system has generated interest at IEA Hydrogen storage task 40 meetings. Its potential in energy saving is being recognised however the challenges on material selection and effective carrier to maximise kinetic continue. Further work on carriers currently being developed. New carrier liquids being investigated in 2024 to enhance capacity Used in non-academic meetings as an example to show the heat management capability of metal hydrides an dpush policy to more efficient methods of heat management |
| Sector | Energy |
| Impact Types | Policy & public services |
| Description | Developed concept of an East Midlands Hydrogen Innovation Zone |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Influencing MPs, Regional and City councils |
| Description | Decarbonisation Of Food Cold Chain Through Integrated Hydrogen Technologies |
| Amount | £972,582 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/V042556/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2021 |
| End | 08/2024 |
| Description | HYS2172 High Store BEIS NZIP HYDROGEN |
| Amount | £300,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 238679778 |
| Organisation | Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2022 |
| End | 10/2022 |
| Description | Leverhulme International Professorship to bring Martin Dornheim to Nottingham |
| Amount | £5,000,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | LIP-2021-018 |
| Organisation | The Leverhulme Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2022 |
| End | 08/2027 |
| Description | Ocean-REFuel - Ocean Renewable Energy Fuels |
| Amount | £1,710,223 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/W005131/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2022 |
| End | 08/2027 |
| Description | Selection, synthesis and characterisation of metal alloys for hydrogen storage and related applications |
| Amount | £70,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 2445525 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2020 |
| End | 09/2024 |
| Description | Hydrogen storage scale up and studentship |
| Organisation | Less Common Metals Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | development of new alloys Studentship started 2020 |
| Collaborator Contribution | Scale up technology development towards higher TRL hydrogen storage tanks |
| Impact | development of scale up of new alloys critical to hydrogen storage In 2020 they LCM sponsored a studentship £60k |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Hydrogen tank design |
| Organisation | Luxfer Gas Cylinders |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | design on metal hydride tanks |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in cylinder manufacture |
| Impact | Impact accelerator and feasibility awards to develop business case model underway in 2021 £30000 exploring market opportunities to spin out |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | (Course: Safe Net Zero 2024 - Safety considerations for materials used in hydrogen environments (hse.gov.uk)). |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | (Course: Safe Net Zero 2024 - Safety considerations for materials used in hydrogen environments (hse.gov.uk)). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | 16th International Symposium of Metal hydrogen systems WeOC06 A6: Alastair Stuart Thermally - driven solar air conditioning , |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | International conference |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.mh2018.cn |
| Description | China visit to ZEG and GRINM |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Visit to ZEG and GRINM to establish potential collaboration in hydrogen storage applications With GRINM set up collaboration on scale up in which material is being tested fro demonstrators |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Energy for Life: Energy Solutions for Developing Economies by Energy Technologies Research Institute (ETRI). David Grant, Metal hydride compressor optimisation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Energy Technologies Research Institute (ETRI) hold an energy conference once every two years around a particular theme. In 2019 the theme was 'Energy for Life: Energy Solutions for Developing Economies'.The two-day conference featured academics, researchers and industrial experts from around the globe. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/energy-for-life-energy-solutions-for-developing-economies-registratio... |
| Description | Energy for Life: Energy Solutions for Developing Economies by Energy Technologies Research Institute (ETRI). Kandavel Manickam presentation - Metal hydrides for stationary hydrogen storage application |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Energy Technologies Research Institute (ETRI) hold an energy conference once every two years around a particular theme. In 2019 the theme was 'Energy for Life: Energy Solutions for Developing Economies'.The two-day conference featured academics, researchers and industrial experts from around the globe. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/energy-for-life-energy-solutions-for-developing-economies-registratio... |
| Description | Energy for Life: Energy Solutions for Developing Economies by Energy Technologies Research Institute (ETRI). Ming Li, Case Study: Developing self-sustained, renewable, low-carbon energy generation and storage systems |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Energy Technologies Research Institute (ETRI) hold an energy conference once every two years around a particular theme. In 2019 the theme was 'Energy for Life: Energy Solutions for Developing Economies'.The two-day conference featured academics, researchers and industrial experts from around the globe. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/energy-for-life-energy-solutions-for-developing-economies-registratio... |
| Description | IEA HIA Task 40 online meetings |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Workshops to share research and develop a series of review papers |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | IEA TCP Task 40: Energy Storage and Conversion Based on Hydrogen Meeting May 2023 Notingham UK Presentation by David Grant |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dissemination of hydrogen storage modelling, new materaisl integration including hydrogen stores and ammonia Determination of collaborations with international experts Seeting agenda |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | IEA TCP Task 40: Energy Storage and Conversion Based on Hydrogen Meeting October 2022 Spain Presentationby Alastair Stuart |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dissemination of research in hydrogen storage by experts leading to International Collaboration |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | IEA international experts meeting TASK 40: ENERGY STORAGE AND CONVERSION BASED ON HYDROGEN |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | IEA TASK 40: ENERGY STORAGE AND CONVERSION BASED ON HYDROGEN Hydrogen storage and hydrogen compressors and thermal orange along with air conditioning approaches discussed Reserach collaborations |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | International Experts meeting. IEA Task 32 HYDROGEN-BASED ENERGY STORAGE |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | International Energy Agency- Hydrogen Implementation agreement Task 32 experts meeting HYDROGEN-BASED ENERGY STORAGE Disceminated our ideas about thermally driven air conditioning using metal hydrides and also hydrogen storage and other thermal stores Outcomes collaborations and combined papers |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Invited Lecture - European Materials Research Society 2020, Poland - Metal Hydrides for Energy Systems, Gavin S Walker. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk on Metal Hydrides for Energy Systems. This sparked conversations with regards to collaborations with Kyushu University, Japan, and Curtin University, Australia. Due to follow-up on these in 2020. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Oral Presentation - Thermally-driven Solar Air Conditioning. Stuart, A. D., 16th UK Heat Transfer Conference (UKHTC2019), University of Nottingham, September 2019. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | engaging industry and academia with new concept in thermal storage fro air conditioning |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Plenary Gavin Walker Metal hydrides fo r energy systems , 268 MH2016 16th International Symposium of Metal Hydrogen Systems, Guangzhou |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | International conference |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.mh2018.cn/ |
| Description | Plenary Lecture - H2FC Supergen Conference 2020, UK - Solid State Technologies for Hydrogen Systems, Gavin S Walker. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Discussed collaboration opportunities with at Imperial College (Agreed an exchange of samples) and services requested by the company Element Energy. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Presentation 'Hydrogen Technologies for the Decarbonisation of Cooling" Advanced Materials Research Group University of Nottngham |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presentation covered the UoN development of a prototype thermally-driven A/C system utilising MH suspensions to provide a continuous transfer of heat between a heat source and heat sink. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Presentation - H2FC Supergen Conference 2020, UK - Solid State Technologies for Hydrogen Systems, Alastair Stuart |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation covering the main research challenges of TANK the provision of low cost, low pressure, highly reversible, high volumetric, H2 storage for commercial applications. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Propulsion Futures Beacon Industry & Academic Forum - Sustainable approaches to composites for aerospace. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | 15 min presentation entitled 'Insights into Material Properties at the Component and Process Level Through Multiphysics Modelling.'. The presentation covered metal hydrdie technologies with a focus on numerical modelling metodology and incorporating material poroperties. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Propulsion Futures Beacon Industry & Academic Forum - Sustainable approaches to composites for aerospace: Alastair Stuart |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Share / promote research activies and methodologies related to composite materials. In particular material properties and how they are characterised. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Several seperate presentations to Aerospace, Marine and Rail industrial and academic community |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Potential of solid state storage disseminated to different sectors |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Talk MoOA03 A1: David Grant Metal hydride compressor optimisation , 232 16th International Symposium on Metal-Hydrogen Systems: in Guangzhou |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dissemination of research outputs |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.mh2018.cn |
| Description | Talks on hydrogen storage disseminated to general public |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Outreach activity |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
| Description | Talks to institute of aerospace technology on hydrogen storage |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | discussing challenges of hydrogen storage fro aerospace |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | UK Expert - IEA Task 40 Energy Storage and Conversion - Talk on Improving the performance of metal hydrides for storage, compression and thermal management, Gavin Walker - Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Meeting of experts from International Energy Agency affiliated countries. The aim is to generate a more collaborative approach to research in the area. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | dissemination to industry of hydrogen storage activity |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Chamber of commerce energy summit. Introducing hydrogen reserach activity influencing the region on hydrogen storage capability |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |