Thermally Driven Heat Pump Based on an Integrated Thermodynamic Cycle for Low Carbon Domestic Heating (Therma-Pump)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Glasgow
Department Name: School of Engineering
Abstract
The UK has set an ambitious target to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050, relative to 1990 levels. Currently, heat accounts for nearly half of the energy consumption in the UK and a third of the nation's carbon emissions. To achieve the UK's carbon reduction target, the residential heating sector has to be substantially decarbonised. A wide range of technologies are at different stage of developments but their energy efficiencies are not all satisfactory. There is clearly a big gap between the demand and supply of cost-effective heating technologies in the UK. There is a urgent need for innovation of low-carbon heating technologies in the UK.
This project develops a novel, gas-powered heat pump that integrates a small-scale Rankine Cycle power generator using organic working fluids (i.e. refrigerants) with a vapour-compression heat pump by means of a novel coupling technology. Both the heat rejected by the Rankine Cycle power generator and the heat provided by the heat pump are fully utilised for heating. The novel design allows the condensing temperature of the heat pump to be much lower than that of a single electrically-powered heat pump leading to much higher energy performance. The compact heat exchangers are used to enable the heat pump much small in size. The novel design of the combustion heat exchanger enables efficient and clean combustion processes.
The novel heating technology developed through this project is much more efficient than traditional heating technologies, and therefore can significantly reduce the carbon emissions from the residential heating sector in the UK, if widely installed.
This project develops a novel, gas-powered heat pump that integrates a small-scale Rankine Cycle power generator using organic working fluids (i.e. refrigerants) with a vapour-compression heat pump by means of a novel coupling technology. Both the heat rejected by the Rankine Cycle power generator and the heat provided by the heat pump are fully utilised for heating. The novel design allows the condensing temperature of the heat pump to be much lower than that of a single electrically-powered heat pump leading to much higher energy performance. The compact heat exchangers are used to enable the heat pump much small in size. The novel design of the combustion heat exchanger enables efficient and clean combustion processes.
The novel heating technology developed through this project is much more efficient than traditional heating technologies, and therefore can significantly reduce the carbon emissions from the residential heating sector in the UK, if widely installed.
Planned Impact
There will be a wide arrange of potential direct and indirect beneficiaries of the developed technology.
The energy equipment manufacturers will directly benefit from the developed technology. Intellectual property generated from this project will be patented nationally and internationally. Hundreds to, ultimately, thousands of new jobs will be generated for its manufacturing, installation, and maintenance, which will contribute to the UK's economic growth. The commercialisation of the technology will enhance the competence of the UK manufacturing sector in the globe market.
The households in the UK are the intended end users of the developed technology. Compared with condensing and non-condensing boilers, it could reduce energy consumption by at least 30%. Such a saving on energy bills will help to combat fuel poverty, freeing up money for spending on other products and services, and thus improves the quality of life in the UK.
As the Therma-Pump can be easily scaled up for district heating applications, commercial buildings are another category of end users of this new technology. Wide installation of the Therma-Pump will reduce the energy bill of commercial buildings such as shopping malls, office blocks.
Some energy-intensive processing industries such as oil refineries and the food industry are also potential beneficiaries. The Therma-Pump can be powered by industrial waste heat, using it to upgrade another part of the waste heat to higher temperature heat for reuse on site. Hence, the overall energy efficiency of these industries will be improved. As the energy demand will be reduced, the fossil fuel imports of the UK could also be reduced. This will certainly contribute to the energy security of the UK in the future.
The UK's policy makers on energy and environment will have a new technology option to tackle the climate change problem once the technology is commercialised.
The general public can benefit from this low carbon technology in the long term. Currently, gas boilers are the primary technology for providing heating in residential sector in the UK. The developed technology, once widely installed, can substantially decarbonise the residential heating sector and thus make a significant contribution to the UK's effort on carbon reduction.
The energy equipment manufacturers will directly benefit from the developed technology. Intellectual property generated from this project will be patented nationally and internationally. Hundreds to, ultimately, thousands of new jobs will be generated for its manufacturing, installation, and maintenance, which will contribute to the UK's economic growth. The commercialisation of the technology will enhance the competence of the UK manufacturing sector in the globe market.
The households in the UK are the intended end users of the developed technology. Compared with condensing and non-condensing boilers, it could reduce energy consumption by at least 30%. Such a saving on energy bills will help to combat fuel poverty, freeing up money for spending on other products and services, and thus improves the quality of life in the UK.
As the Therma-Pump can be easily scaled up for district heating applications, commercial buildings are another category of end users of this new technology. Wide installation of the Therma-Pump will reduce the energy bill of commercial buildings such as shopping malls, office blocks.
Some energy-intensive processing industries such as oil refineries and the food industry are also potential beneficiaries. The Therma-Pump can be powered by industrial waste heat, using it to upgrade another part of the waste heat to higher temperature heat for reuse on site. Hence, the overall energy efficiency of these industries will be improved. As the energy demand will be reduced, the fossil fuel imports of the UK could also be reduced. This will certainly contribute to the energy security of the UK in the future.
The UK's policy makers on energy and environment will have a new technology option to tackle the climate change problem once the technology is commercialised.
The general public can benefit from this low carbon technology in the long term. Currently, gas boilers are the primary technology for providing heating in residential sector in the UK. The developed technology, once widely installed, can substantially decarbonise the residential heating sector and thus make a significant contribution to the UK's effort on carbon reduction.
Organisations
- University of Glasgow (Lead Research Organisation)
- Tianjin University (Collaboration)
- Xi'an Jiaotong University (Collaboration)
- HUAZHONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (Collaboration)
- Energy Technology Centre (Collaboration)
- Beijing University of Technology (Collaboration)
- FeTu (Collaboration)
- Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) (Collaboration)
- China Investment Yixing Red Sun Solar Energy Technology Company (Collaboration)
- Sunamp Ltd (Collaboration)
- Scottish Power Ltd (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH (Collaboration)
- Super Radiator Coils (Project Partner)
- Wellman Furnaces Ltd (Project Partner)
- IHI Europe Ltd. (Project Partner)
- DRD Power (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
Publications
Li H
(2021)
An inverse mean-line design method for optimizing radial outflow two-phase turbines in geothermal systems
in Renewable Energy
Li H
(2021)
Investigation of the performance and flow characteristics of two-phase reaction turbines in total flow geothermal systems
in Renewable Energy
Li H
(2021)
Flashing flow in the rotating curved channels with variable cross-section of a two-phase flow turbine
in International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer
Li W
(2020)
Bioinspired heat exchangers based on triply periodic minimal surfaces for supercritical CO2 cycles
in Applied Thermal Engineering
Li W
(2020)
CFD modelling of a thermal chimney for air-cooled condenser
in Geothermics
Li W
(2023)
Heat transfer enhancement of tubes in various shapes potentially applied to CO2 heat exchangers in refrigeration systems: Review and assessment
in International Journal of Thermofluids
Li W
(2022)
Heat transfer enhancement of twisted tape inserts in supercritical carbon dioxide flow conditions based on CFD and vortex kinematics
in Thermal Science and Engineering Progress
Li W
(2023)
Convective heat transfer in a thermal chimney for freshwater production in geothermal total flow systems
in Applied Thermal Engineering
Li W
(2022)
Heat transfer enhancement of water-cooled triply periodic minimal surface heat exchangers
in Applied Thermal Engineering
| Description | The proposed heat pump technology has been theoretically modelled and numerically simulated. It has been numerically demonstrated that the proposed system can achieve an overall fuel-to-heat efficiency up to 147% when the cold water is heated from 10 to 65 °C and the ambient air temperature is in the range -5 to 5 °C. The research results demonstrated that the proposed technology has a great potential for hot water applications. A prototype has been constructed and it has proved the concept. It demonstrated the potential of developing small-scale thermally driven refrigeration/heat pump system using the integrated ORC and Vapour compression cycle. The CFD model of porous burner has been developed and a prototype has been built and tested, which has proved the concept. Micro-channel heat exchangers have been modelled and designed, and prototypes have been built and tested. |
| Exploitation Route | We will endeavour to make the findings, models, and experimental data available via open access publications and data management. We will also collaborate with industrial partners to take this technology to higher TRLs. An IAA grant has been awarded to work with industrial partner Fetu ltd to further develop the obtained technology. Due to the pandemic of Covid-19, this project has been delayed to February 2021. It is still on-going. |
| Sectors | Energy,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Description | The outcomes of this project have helped to establish collaboration with industrial companies including FETU Ltd and Sunamp. Prof Zhibin Yu has made a joint Innovate UK application with FETU on cooling technologies, which received high scores but narrowly missed the fund. Prof Zhibin Yu has made a joint IAA application with FETU, and secured a grant to further develop the obtained heat driven heating/cooling technology. The continuous research activities on ORC technology further led to an Impact Acceleration Account project in collaboration with FeTu company to develop a small scale waste heat powered cooling technology. I continue to work with FeTu explore the potential of the combined Organic Rankine Cycle and Vapour Compression Cycle technology. Prof Manosh Paul established collaboration with Energy Technology Centre Ltd to develop a hydrogen burner for industrial applications using the concept developed through this project. The research work of heat pump technology of this project has led to a recent award of an EPSRC project on a novel flexible air source heat pump. A patent has also been filed with an UK patent application (application no.: 2015531.3) in 2020. It has been filed with a PCT (PCT/EP2021/076855) in September 2021. The outcomes of this project have helped to establish collaboration with industrial companies including FETU Ltd and Sunamp. Prof Zhibin Yu has made a joint Innovate UK application with FETU on cooling technologies, which received high scores but narrowly missed the fund. Prof Zhibin Yu has made a joint IAA application with FETU, and secured a grant to further develop the obtained heat driven heating/cooling technology. The continuous research activities on ORC technology further led to an Impact Acceleration Account project in collaboration with FeTu company to develop a small scale waste heat powered cooling technology. I continue to work with FeTu explore the potential of the combined Organic Rankine Cycle and Vapour Compression Cycle technology. Prof Manosh Paul established collaboration with Energy Technology Centre Ltd to develop a hydrogen burner for industrial applications using the concept developed through this project. The research work of heat pump technology of this project has led to a recent award of an EPSRC project on a novel flexible air source heat pump. A patent has also been filed with an UK patent application (application no.: 2015531.3) in 2020. It has been filed with a PCT (PCT/EP2021/076855) in September 2021. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
| Sector | Creative Economy |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | Provide views to the Scottish Government energy team in the area of heating technologies |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | 5th Generation heating networks |
| Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Scottish Power Ltd |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2020 |
| End | 12/2023 |
| Description | 5th generation of heating networks |
| Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | #176 |
| Organisation | Energy Technology Partnership (ETP) |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2020 |
| End | 12/2023 |
| Description | An Adsorption-Compression Cold Thermal Energy Storage System (ACCESS) |
| Amount | £1,022,621 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/W027593/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2022 |
| End | 08/2024 |
| Description | An ORC power plant integrated with thermal energy storage to utilise renewable heat sources for distributed H&P |
| Amount | £814,378 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/R003122/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2017 |
| End | 04/2019 |
| Description | An engineering, social and economic evaluation of food processing in the rural areas of Malawi and Kenya |
| Amount | £34,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Government of Scotland |
| Department | Scottish Funding Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2017 |
| End | 03/2018 |
| Description | China-UK workshop on low-carbon heating and cooling technologies |
| Amount | £39,320 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 2018-RLWK10-10298 |
| Organisation | British Council |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2019 |
| End | 12/2019 |
| Description | Collaborative development of renewable/thermally driven and storage-integrated cooling technologies |
| Amount | € 639,000 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | SEP-210670381 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 06/2021 |
| End | 05/2025 |
| Description | Decentralised water technologies |
| Amount | £5,994,286 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/V030515/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2021 |
| End | 02/2026 |
| Description | Developing and testing a new Energy from Waste gasification feedstock |
| Amount | £646,433 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 103493 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2017 |
| End | 06/2019 |
| Description | Development of a hydrogen burner for industrial applications |
| Amount | £23,000 (GGP) |
| Funding ID | PR008-HE |
| Organisation | Energy Technology Partnership (ETP) |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2019 |
| End | 02/2020 |
| Description | Development of a portable trigeneration energy system for domestic use in Kenya |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 332409407 |
| Organisation | British Council |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | Flexible Air Source Heat pump for domestic heating decarbonisation (FASHION) |
| Amount | £1,149,351 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/V042033/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2021 |
| End | 08/2024 |
| Description | Flexible Heat |
| Amount | £137,858 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 10025661 |
| Organisation | Scottish Power Ltd |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2022 |
| End | 04/2022 |
| Description | GREEN-ICEs: Generation of REfrigerated ENergy Integrated with Cold Energy storage |
| Amount | £398,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2020 |
| End | 06/2023 |
| Description | GREEN-ICEs: Generation of REfrigerated ENergy Integrated with Cold Energy storage |
| Amount | £1,204,098 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/T022701/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2020 |
| End | 08/2023 |
| Description | Industrial Doctorate |
| Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 217 |
| Organisation | Energy Technology Partnership (ETP) |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2023 |
| End | 09/2027 |
| Description | Industurial doctorate |
| Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 210 |
| Organisation | Energy Technology Partnership (ETP) |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2023 |
| End | 02/2027 |
| Description | Modelling and Optimisation of Integrated Urban Energy Systems for both Heating and Power |
| Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Scottish Power Ltd |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2018 |
| End | 08/2021 |
| Description | Modelling and Optimisation of Integrated Urban Energy Systems for both Heating and Power |
| Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Energy Technology Partnership (ETP) |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2018 |
| End | 08/2021 |
| Description | Negative CO2 Emissions CHP Technology |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2018 |
| End | 09/2022 |
| Description | Next Generation Advanced Gasification Technology |
| Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | LTSRF1718\14\45 |
| Organisation | Royal Academy of Engineering |
| Department | The Leverhulme Trust/Royal Academy of Engineering |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2018 |
| End | 08/2019 |
| Description | PhD studenship |
| Amount | £45,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Scottish Power Ltd |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2023 |
| End | 03/2027 |
| Description | PhD studentship |
| Amount | £45,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2023 |
| End | 09/2027 |
| Description | Preliminary study of a novel double acting liquid piston expander technology |
| Amount | £9,965 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Via: EP/K503903/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2017 |
| End | 03/2017 |
| Description | Study of the impacts of electrification of heating on electric grid at district level |
| Amount | £45,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Scottish Power Ltd |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2019 |
| End | 09/2022 |
| Description | Study on the integrated vehicle IC engine based ORC system |
| Amount | £12,500 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | IE150866 |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2016 |
| End | 03/2018 |
| Description | Sustainable and clean bioenergised cooking facility to boost resilience to climate change in Malawi |
| Amount | £123,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2019 |
| End | 03/2021 |
| Description | Transport Scotland Industry Engagement Fund |
| Amount | £9,366 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Scottish Enterprise |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2022 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Description | Waste heat driven cooling technology - IAA Project (EPSRC via University of Glasgow) |
| Amount | £40,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2020 |
| End | 03/2021 |
| Title | CFD models of porous combustor |
| Description | CFD models have been developed for porous combustors. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | These models have been published and are open for the research community and industrial users. |
| Title | Numerical models and design tool for combined ORC and Heat Pump system |
| Description | Numerical models and design tool have been developed for designing ORC, Heat Pump system, and the combined system of both. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The models have been published for other researchers and industrial users. |
| Title | Numerical simulations tool for designing the ORC systems or Heat pumps |
| Description | A numerical model has been developed to simulate and design the proposed Therma-Pump. This can be used to design the ORC power plants or heat pump systems as well. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This offers the first model of this kind to design such an integrated system. |
| Title | models for design and simulation of condenser and evaporator |
| Description | Professor Huasheng Wang's team have developed the models for design and simulation of condenser and evaporator and are assembling and commissioning the new test rig due to the difficult to appoint the technician. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | It can be widely used by other researchers and industrial sectors |
| Description | Beijing University of Technology |
| Organisation | Beijing University of Technology |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provide the design of ORC power plant and the control and power electronic system. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Develop and provide a 5 kW single screw expander. |
| Impact | Collaborate on the develop of cost-effective ORC power generation technology. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Collaboration ORC technology for energy recovery from IC engine's exhaust gases |
| Organisation | Beijing University of Technology |
| Department | School of Automation |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Expertise of the development of small-sacle organic Rankine cycle power plants that has been gained via the project "Dynamic Organic Rankine Cycle for Recovering Industrial Waste Heat". The research facilities at the University of Glasgow, which were developed via the project "Dynamic Organic Rankine Cycle for Recovering Industrial Waste Heat". |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise of phase change material based heat storage technology Melton salty based heat storage technology Single screw expander technology |
| Impact | This collaboration has led to a successful major joint grant application to the call "China-UK Innovation Bridge". An ORC power plant integrated with thermal energy storage to utilise renewable heat sources for distributed heating and power, Total value: £1.4 M (UoG: £390,881); May 2017 - April 2019; Role: PI. (Project Partners: Sunamp Ltd (UK), Beijing University of Technology, China Investment Yixing Red Sun Solar Energy Technology Company, China) This project has been selected for funding, and is in the final process for accepting the offer. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Collaboration ORC technology for energy recovery from IC engine's exhaust gases |
| Organisation | China Investment Yixing Red Sun Solar Energy Technology Company |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Expertise of the development of small-sacle organic Rankine cycle power plants that has been gained via the project "Dynamic Organic Rankine Cycle for Recovering Industrial Waste Heat". The research facilities at the University of Glasgow, which were developed via the project "Dynamic Organic Rankine Cycle for Recovering Industrial Waste Heat". |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise of phase change material based heat storage technology Melton salty based heat storage technology Single screw expander technology |
| Impact | This collaboration has led to a successful major joint grant application to the call "China-UK Innovation Bridge". An ORC power plant integrated with thermal energy storage to utilise renewable heat sources for distributed heating and power, Total value: £1.4 M (UoG: £390,881); May 2017 - April 2019; Role: PI. (Project Partners: Sunamp Ltd (UK), Beijing University of Technology, China Investment Yixing Red Sun Solar Energy Technology Company, China) This project has been selected for funding, and is in the final process for accepting the offer. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Collaboration ORC technology for energy recovery from IC engine's exhaust gases |
| Organisation | Sunamp Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Expertise of the development of small-sacle organic Rankine cycle power plants that has been gained via the project "Dynamic Organic Rankine Cycle for Recovering Industrial Waste Heat". The research facilities at the University of Glasgow, which were developed via the project "Dynamic Organic Rankine Cycle for Recovering Industrial Waste Heat". |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise of phase change material based heat storage technology Melton salty based heat storage technology Single screw expander technology |
| Impact | This collaboration has led to a successful major joint grant application to the call "China-UK Innovation Bridge". An ORC power plant integrated with thermal energy storage to utilise renewable heat sources for distributed heating and power, Total value: £1.4 M (UoG: £390,881); May 2017 - April 2019; Role: PI. (Project Partners: Sunamp Ltd (UK), Beijing University of Technology, China Investment Yixing Red Sun Solar Energy Technology Company, China) This project has been selected for funding, and is in the final process for accepting the offer. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Collaboration with Dr Yongliang Li |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Established collaboration and secured two more research grants. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Academic collaboration in grant applicaitons. |
| Impact | n/a |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Collaboration with FETU |
| Organisation | FeTu |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in heat pumps, refrigeration, and power generation |
| Collaborator Contribution | FETU compressor / expander technology |
| Impact | We are working on a joint grant application to Innovate UK Smart Programme |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Collaboration with Huazhong University of Science and Technology |
| Organisation | Huazhong University of Science and Technology |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Established collaboration with Huazhong University of Science and Technology (China), led to a successful workshop/network grant by British Council and NSFC of China (Ref: 2018-RLWK10-10298) Contribution: expertise in heating and cooling technologies |
| Collaborator Contribution | expertise in cooling technologies |
| Impact | We will organise a joint China-UK worksho for heating and cooling technologies. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Collaboration with Prof Xiangeng Fan and Dr Martin Sweatman at Edinburgh |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I led a joint grant application in collaboration with Prof Xiangeng Fan and Dr Martin Sweatman at Edinburgh. EP/W027593/1 - An Adsorption-Compression Cold Thermal Energy Storage System (ACCESS). It was awarded but yet to start. Total value is £1.01, and University of Glasgow receives £501k. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Prof Xiangeng Fan and Dr Martin Sweatman at Edinburgh led two work packages of the joint project. EP/W027593/1 - An Adsorption-Compression Cold Thermal Energy Storage System (ACCESS) |
| Impact | This project has not started yet. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Collaboration with Prof. Hua Tian and Gequn Shu in Tianjin University, China |
| Organisation | Tianjin University |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Established collaboration with Prof. Hua Tian and Gequn Shu in Tianjin University in the area of super-critical CO2 power generation technologies. Our contribution: expertise of PIV experimental testing by Dr Zhibin Yu and CFD design expertise by Prof. Li He |
| Collaborator Contribution | Their expertise of supercritical CO2 power plants |
| Impact | Established collaboration with Tianjin University and submitted a China-UK Low Carbon Manufacture grant application in 2018. It received very high review scores but narrowly missed due to the very limited funds available of this Call. We will continue to collaborate in this area. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Collaboration with SSE |
| Organisation | Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Develop a new concept for cold energy storage to mitigate the impacts of the cooling sector. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Industrial expertise of the grid operation and the constraints. |
| Impact | SSE support me on a successful EPSRC grant application - ACCESS project. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Collaboration with Scottish Power Energy Networks |
| Organisation | Scottish Power Ltd |
| Department | Scottish Power Energy Networks |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We developed models and tools to understand the hourly heat demand of the UK and provided the knowledge of the impacts of the heat electrification on the electric grid. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided funding and research data. |
| Impact | Led to further business and academia collaboration: 1) Host Dr James Yu as Industrial Fellowship, Royal Academy of Engineering/Scottish Power, Value: £84,138. 20/09/2021-19/09/2022. Role: PI. 2) Jointly secured two Ofgem projects: Flexible Heat and Heat Balance. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Collaboration with Scottish power |
| Organisation | Scottish Power Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Contribute to the project "Modelling and Optimisation of Integrated Urban Energy Systems for both Heating and Power" in the area of heating networks, including modelling and optimisation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contribute to the project "Modelling and Optimisation of Integrated Urban Energy Systems for both Heating and Power" in the area of smart grid, including modelling and optimisation. |
| Impact | We submitted a joint application for a PhD studentship to Energy Technology Partnership in 2017 and was funded. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Collaboration with Xian Jiaotong University |
| Organisation | Xi'an Jiaotong University |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Established collaboration with Dr Mingjia Li in Xi'an Jiaotong University and submitted a China-UK Low Carbon Manufacture grant application in 2018. my contribution: expertise of PIV measurement and thermodynamics |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in thermodynamics and heat transfer |
| Impact | Submitted a China-UK Low Carbon Manufacture grant application in 2018. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Partnership development with Energy Technology Centre Ltd (ETC) |
| Organisation | Energy Technology Centre |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | provide modelling of hydrogen combustion |
| Collaborator Contribution | provide research data for modelling verification |
| Impact | an improved modelling tool for hydrogen combustion |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Sunamp |
| Organisation | Sunamp Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Test the heat batteries using our ORC system. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provide new heat batteries. |
| Impact | This is a multi-disciplinary collaboration. Sunamp develops new heat batteries, and we develop ORC power generation technology. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Title | A HEAT PUMP SYSTEM |
| Description | A heat pump system for controlling the internal temperature of a building. The system comprises a compressor, a first heat exchanger, an expansion device and a second heat exchanger which are fluidly coupled together by a flow of refrigerant to define a refrigerant circuit, and a thermal energy storage means which is thermally couplable to the refrigerant circuit to exchange thermal energy with the refrigerant. The heat pump system is configured to be operable in a normal heating mode and in a defrosting mode. In the normal heating mode, thermal energy is transferred from the second heat exchanger into the refrigerant and transferred from the refrigerant by the first heat exchanger to heat the building. In the defrosting mode thermal energy is transferred from the thermal energy storage means into the refrigerant and transferred from the refrigerant by the first heat exchanger to heat the building and by the second heat exchanger to defrost the second heat exchanger. The heat pump system comprises a switching assembly which is configured to switch between the normal heating and defrosting modes, and wherein the switching assembly is configured, when operating the heat pump system in the defrosting mode, to direct refrigerant exiting the first heat exchanger to flow through the second heat exchanger to cause residual heat in the refrigerant to defrost the second heat exchanger. |
| IP Reference | WO2022069581 |
| Protection | Patent / Patent application |
| Year Protection Granted | 2022 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | A list of companies showed interests in the IP, and maintain dialogue with us. |
| Description | A talk at China-UK Workshop on Efficient Energy Utilisation 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The China-UK workshop on efficient energy utilisation bring together researchers and industrialists working on energy efficiency in both UK and China. Around 40-50 people attended this event. I gave a talk "A novel heat pump based on combined thermodynamic cycle". |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Chair and and give a talk at the "Decarbonising Heat" session of Energy Innovation Emporium Conference 31st May 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | This conference brings together industry, the public sector and academia to discuss innovation for the Energy Strategy. Academia and businesses will present their research expertise & needs, from which the conference will identify avenues of innovation and cooperation that will support the Scottish Government's ambitions around carbon reduction. As the coordinator of the Heat Energy Theme of ETP, I and the BDM and other colleagues organised a session on the topic of "Decarbonise Heat", and it attached around 100 participants. I chaired the session and delivered the open talk. Several other speakers from industry sector and business sector and Scottish government energy team gave talks and participated the debate and panel discussion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.etp-scotland.ac.uk/NewsandEvents/Events/ETPEmporiumEvent2017.aspx |
| Description | Chair/co-organise the workshop - Seasonal Thermal Storage for Scotland |
| 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 | Seasonal Thermal Storage (STS) projects and technologies are allowing regions to decarbonise their heating by allowing heat to be collected during the summer, stored, and then used in the winter when peak heat demand occurs. STS projects are successfully up and running in several countries but not yet in Scotland. This event aims to introduce the concept of STS, how it can add value to local and national energy systems, and the technologies involved. We will hear from experts who have been delivering STS projects in North West Europe, and who have been appraising the potential of STS to best be integrated into energy systems in Scotland. The event will be useful for anyone from both the public and private sector who are in an energy planning, financing, or research role and would like to learn more about energy storage options beyond electrical batteries, and how alternative storage forms can provide key services to local and national energy systems. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Engagement with Scottish Energy Association |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Give a talk on heat energy and waste heat recover to the members of the Scottish Energy Association. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Engagement with Scottish Government's Energy Team |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Regular meeting with Scottish Government's Energy Team once six months to provide academic input to the heat energy related policy making. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
| Description | Engagement with UK Committee on Climate Change |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Round table meeting organised by ETP to engage with with Chris Stark, CEO of the UK Committee on Climate Change, 2018. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Guest on the Science Show - Jambo Radio |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Guest at The Science Show of Jambo Radio. Talk about heating technologies, heat pumps, heat decarbonisation. Challenges and Opportunities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmkfDM-H9nU |
| Description | Interview by Physics World of Institute of Physics |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Interviewed by the journalist to talk about may invention of flexible heat pump and more widely heat decarbonisation. Home, green home: scientific solutions for cutting carbon and (maybe) saving money 13 Oct 2022 Margaret Harris |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://physicsworld.com/a/home-green-home-scientific-solutions-for-cutting-carbon-and-maybe-saving-... |
| Description | Interviewed by Knowable Magazine of Annual Reviews |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Interviewed by a journalist to talk about my invention of flexible heat pumps, and heat decarbonisation more widely. How heat pumps of the 1800s are becoming the technology of the future Innovative thinking has done away with problems that long dogged the electric devices - and both scientists and environmentalists are excited about the possibilities By Chris Baraniuk 01.11.2023 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://knowablemagazine.org/article/technology/2023/heat-pumps-becoming-technology-future |
| Description | Organising a China - UK low carbon heating and cooling workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Around 100 delegate attended, of which there 20 participants from industrial companies |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |