Energy-Use Minimisation via High Performance Heat-Power-Cooling Conversion and Integration: A Holistic Molecules to Technologies to Systems Approach
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Chemical Engineering
Abstract
A 4-year multidisciplinary project aimed at minimising primary-energy use in UK industry is proposed, concerned with next-generation technological solutions, identifying the challenges, and assessing the opportunities and benefits (to different stakeholders) resulting from their optimal implementation. Around 20 companies from component manufacturers to industrial end-users have expressed an interest in supporting this project. With this industrial support, the team has the necessary access and is in a prime position to deliver real impact, culminating in the practical demonstration of these solutions.
The proposed project is concerned with specific advancements to two selected energy-conversion technologies with integrated energy-storage capabilities, one for each of: 1) heat-to-power with organic Rankine cycle (ORC) devices; and 2) heat-to-cooling with absorption refrigeration (AR) devices. These technological solutions are capable of recovering and utilising thermal energy from a diverse range of sources in industrial applications. The heat input can come from highly efficient distributed combined heat & power (CHP) units, conventional or renewable sources (solar, geothermal, biomass/gas), or be wasted from industrial processes. With regards to the latter, at least 17% of all UK industrial energy-use is estimated as being wasted as heat, of which only 17% is considered economically recoverable with currently available technology. The successful implementation of these technologies would increase the potential for waste-heat utilisation by a factor of 3.5, from 17% with current technologies to close to 60%.
The in-built, by design, capacity for low-cost thermal storage acts to buffer energy or temperature fluctuations inherent to most real heat sources, allowing smaller conversion devices (for the same average input) and more efficient operation of those devices closer to their design points for longer periods. This will greatly improve the economic proposition of implementing these conversion solutions by simultaneously reducing capital and maintenance costs, and improving performance.
The technologies of interest are promising but are not economically viable currently in the vast majority of applications with >5-20 year paybacks at best. The project involves targeting and resolving pre-identified 'bottleneck' aspects of each technology that can enable step-improvements in maximising performance per unit capital cost. The goal is to enable the widespread uptake of these technologies and their optimal integration with existing energy systems and energy-efficiency strategies, leading to drastic increases performance while lowering costs, thus reducing payback to 3-5 years. It is intended that technological step-changes will be attained by unlocking the synergistic potential of optimised, application-tailored fluids for high efficiency and power, and of innovative components including advanced heat-exchanger configurations and architectures in order to increase thermal transport while simultaneously reducing component size and cost. Important system-level components are included in the project, whose objective is to assess the impact of incorporating these systems in targeted industrial settings, examine technoeconomic feasibility, and identify opportunities relating to optimal integration, control and operation to maximise in-use performance. A dynamic, interactive whole-energy-integration design and assessment platform will be developed to accelerate the implementation of the technological advances, feeding into specific case-studies and facilitating direct recommendations to industry.
Only two international research teams are capable of developing the necessary tools that combine multiscale state-of-the-art molecular thermodynamic theories for fluids, detailed energy-conversion ORC and AR models, and incorporating these into whole-energy-system optimisation platforms. This is truly a world-leading development.
The proposed project is concerned with specific advancements to two selected energy-conversion technologies with integrated energy-storage capabilities, one for each of: 1) heat-to-power with organic Rankine cycle (ORC) devices; and 2) heat-to-cooling with absorption refrigeration (AR) devices. These technological solutions are capable of recovering and utilising thermal energy from a diverse range of sources in industrial applications. The heat input can come from highly efficient distributed combined heat & power (CHP) units, conventional or renewable sources (solar, geothermal, biomass/gas), or be wasted from industrial processes. With regards to the latter, at least 17% of all UK industrial energy-use is estimated as being wasted as heat, of which only 17% is considered economically recoverable with currently available technology. The successful implementation of these technologies would increase the potential for waste-heat utilisation by a factor of 3.5, from 17% with current technologies to close to 60%.
The in-built, by design, capacity for low-cost thermal storage acts to buffer energy or temperature fluctuations inherent to most real heat sources, allowing smaller conversion devices (for the same average input) and more efficient operation of those devices closer to their design points for longer periods. This will greatly improve the economic proposition of implementing these conversion solutions by simultaneously reducing capital and maintenance costs, and improving performance.
The technologies of interest are promising but are not economically viable currently in the vast majority of applications with >5-20 year paybacks at best. The project involves targeting and resolving pre-identified 'bottleneck' aspects of each technology that can enable step-improvements in maximising performance per unit capital cost. The goal is to enable the widespread uptake of these technologies and their optimal integration with existing energy systems and energy-efficiency strategies, leading to drastic increases performance while lowering costs, thus reducing payback to 3-5 years. It is intended that technological step-changes will be attained by unlocking the synergistic potential of optimised, application-tailored fluids for high efficiency and power, and of innovative components including advanced heat-exchanger configurations and architectures in order to increase thermal transport while simultaneously reducing component size and cost. Important system-level components are included in the project, whose objective is to assess the impact of incorporating these systems in targeted industrial settings, examine technoeconomic feasibility, and identify opportunities relating to optimal integration, control and operation to maximise in-use performance. A dynamic, interactive whole-energy-integration design and assessment platform will be developed to accelerate the implementation of the technological advances, feeding into specific case-studies and facilitating direct recommendations to industry.
Only two international research teams are capable of developing the necessary tools that combine multiscale state-of-the-art molecular thermodynamic theories for fluids, detailed energy-conversion ORC and AR models, and incorporating these into whole-energy-system optimisation platforms. This is truly a world-leading development.
Planned Impact
This project aims to demonstrate next-generation heat to electricity or cooling conversion technologies suitable for industrial applications. Step-changes are proposed in the evolution of two suitable technologies, ORC and DAR devices, that aim to improve performance and also, crucially, to decrease cost and increase flexibility. Considering that ~17% of UK industry energy-use is rejected to the environment in the form of wasted heat, the successful implementation of the outcomes of the project has the significant potential to decrease primary-energy demand, by improving the utilisation of waste-heat by a factor of 3.5, from 17% with current technologies to 60%. The proposed solutions are also capable of recovering and utilising thermal energy from distributed CHP units, and other conventional or renewable sources (biomass/gas, geothermal, solar). The solutions promise payback as low as 2-3 years, significantly lowering the current barriers to uptake. If the identified waste-heat from suitable sources is converted to power, 2-3% of all UK electricity generation could be displaced, replacing 1 average UK coal-fired power station or 3 new CCGT plants.
Value change will be created that will bring benefits to the academic community and stakeholders (e.g. simulation-guided novel fluids), the lead users and manufacturers (new heat-exchanger configurations with high power-density, reduced size and cost) and the end-users (reduced energy demand, independence, competitive advantage), and also more wide-ranging societal benefits in terms of enhancing economic, environmental and social sustainability.
The project has the potential to lead to breakthrough energy-utilisation solutions, transforming industrial practices, leading to step-changes in energy-input reductions to industrial processes, emission reductions and significantly increased resilience to uncertainty in primary-energy supply. It will lead to transformative improvements in materials and equipment design and process operation with substantial efficiency gains, and give the UK a significant lead in the design, development, manufacture, installation, operation and knowhow of these technologies and their implementation.
A detailed plan with regards to impact on knowledge, the economy, society and people has been prepared, based on the experience of the investigators in similar projects, including, for example, an Industry Engagement Programme (IEP) aimed specifically at interacting with our partner companies, identifying new interested industrial end-users (and component manufacturers, or installers), and interacting with partners during the case-studies. Furthermore, the team has close links with, and support from, a large number of industrial partners and smaller spin-out companies who will benefit greatly from the results of the proposed research, either directly from the findings or secondments and exchanges. We also have start-up/entrepreneurship experience, foster close links with DECC, DCLG, R&D and technology translation initiatives such as the Technology Partnership (TTP) and Carbon Trust, have been part of numerous non-academic networks, and have a strong technology transfer track record, e.g.: PSE, Hexxcell, Thermofluidics.
This project will supply the next generation of highly skilled energy technology and systems researchers and entrepreneurs, delivering a range of societal impacts underpinned by the enhanced sustainability of UK industrial processes: 1) sustainable and more-efficient processes, energy, power and manufacturing due to superior equipment design and processes operation resulting in reduced energy requirements manufacturing, reduced downtime, waste and primary energy demand; 2) new technologies and routes, via both power and cooling including storage, for enhanced energy efficiency and low emissions towards a sustainable and decarbonised energy society; as well as 3) engaging policy-related contacts and young people/public engagements.
Value change will be created that will bring benefits to the academic community and stakeholders (e.g. simulation-guided novel fluids), the lead users and manufacturers (new heat-exchanger configurations with high power-density, reduced size and cost) and the end-users (reduced energy demand, independence, competitive advantage), and also more wide-ranging societal benefits in terms of enhancing economic, environmental and social sustainability.
The project has the potential to lead to breakthrough energy-utilisation solutions, transforming industrial practices, leading to step-changes in energy-input reductions to industrial processes, emission reductions and significantly increased resilience to uncertainty in primary-energy supply. It will lead to transformative improvements in materials and equipment design and process operation with substantial efficiency gains, and give the UK a significant lead in the design, development, manufacture, installation, operation and knowhow of these technologies and their implementation.
A detailed plan with regards to impact on knowledge, the economy, society and people has been prepared, based on the experience of the investigators in similar projects, including, for example, an Industry Engagement Programme (IEP) aimed specifically at interacting with our partner companies, identifying new interested industrial end-users (and component manufacturers, or installers), and interacting with partners during the case-studies. Furthermore, the team has close links with, and support from, a large number of industrial partners and smaller spin-out companies who will benefit greatly from the results of the proposed research, either directly from the findings or secondments and exchanges. We also have start-up/entrepreneurship experience, foster close links with DECC, DCLG, R&D and technology translation initiatives such as the Technology Partnership (TTP) and Carbon Trust, have been part of numerous non-academic networks, and have a strong technology transfer track record, e.g.: PSE, Hexxcell, Thermofluidics.
This project will supply the next generation of highly skilled energy technology and systems researchers and entrepreneurs, delivering a range of societal impacts underpinned by the enhanced sustainability of UK industrial processes: 1) sustainable and more-efficient processes, energy, power and manufacturing due to superior equipment design and processes operation resulting in reduced energy requirements manufacturing, reduced downtime, waste and primary energy demand; 2) new technologies and routes, via both power and cooling including storage, for enhanced energy efficiency and low emissions towards a sustainable and decarbonised energy society; as well as 3) engaging policy-related contacts and young people/public engagements.
Organisations
- Imperial College London (Lead Research Organisation)
- Tianjin University (Collaboration)
- Brunel University London (Collaboration)
- Polytechnic University of Bari (Collaboration)
- Flexible Power Systems Ltd (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM (Collaboration)
- Dearman (Collaboration)
- Xi'an Jiaotong University (Collaboration)
- Tsinghua University China (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (Collaboration)
- Hubbard Products (Collaboration)
- Mitsubishi Electric (Collaboration)
- Ener-G (Project Partner)
- Synthomer (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Hubbard Products (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Libertine FPE (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Heatcatcher Ltd (Project Partner)
- EDF Energy (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Sabic Americas, Inc. (Project Partner)
- Sainsbury's (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Linde (United States) (Project Partner)
- British Glass (Project Partner)
- DRD Power (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Solar-Polar Limited (Project Partner)
- Entropea Labs (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Baxi Heating Ltd (Project Partner)
Publications
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Peng X
(2019)
Liquid air energy storage flexibly coupled with LNG regasification for improving air liquefaction
in Applied Energy
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Kirmse C
(2017)
A two-phase single-reciprocating-piston heat conversion engine: Non-linear dynamic modelling
in Applied Energy
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Maouris G
(2020)
CO2 refrigeration system heat recovery and thermal storage modelling for space heating provision in supermarkets: An integrated approach
in Applied Energy
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Chatzopoulou M
(2019)
Off-design optimisation of organic Rankine cycle (ORC) engines with piston expanders for medium-scale combined heat and power applications
in Applied Energy
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Ramos A
(2018)
Optimisation of a high-efficiency solar-driven organic Rankine cycle for applications in the built environment
in Applied Energy
Description | By extending the CAMD-ORC framework to include the design of refrigerant working fluid in addition to hydrocarbons, new insights have been gained on the type of working fluid that should be used for a given waste heat recovery application. For example, the findings from this work reveal that refrigerants are particularly suitable for low temperature heat source, while hydrocarbons tend to give better performance (in terms of power output) for medium to high temperature heat sources. Further studies will expand the scope of the current work to include large spectrum refrigerants. |
Exploitation Route | The findings from this research can serve as a guide for design engineers, particularly for the selection of optimal working fluid for a given waste heat recovery application. As the proposed framework has already been published, it can be used by both academics and industrial practitioners to facilitate the search for the next-generation organic Rankine cycle systems that are economically viable. Further research can be carried out to widen the scope of the proposed framework, e.g. addition of new molecular groups to allow the design of novel and existing working fluids, including but not limited to hydrocarbons such as ether, alcohol etc. Other cycle configuration can also be exploited, e.g. trans-critical cycles. |
Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Agriculture, Food and Drink,Communities and Social Services/Policy,Construction,Energy,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Retail,Transport |
Description | The outputs, both in terms of data, results and modelling tools, have led to an on-going discussion with Mitsubishi electric on heat pumping technology, in particular relating to the use of appropriate thermal energy storage capability integrated within these wider systems, and the selection and design of optimal working fluids. In addition, UK SME Solar Polar as benefitted from insight and modelling tools relating to optimal working fluid selection for their diffusion absorption refrigeration technology. |
First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
Sector | Energy,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
Title | Expander testing facility |
Description | An experimental appartus has been developed within the Clean Energy Processes (CEP) Laboratory to test various expansion machines (positive-displacement and turbo expanders) under varying conditions. The CEP expander testing facility is made of a two-stage intercooled reciprocating compressor, a heat-rejection heat exchanger, the expander test section, and a heat-addition heat exchanger. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | This apparatus can be used (i) to investigate the performance of various positive-displacement and turbo expanders whilst operating with different working fluids, namely light gases (e.g., Nitrogen) and refrigerants (e.g., R245fa), (ii) to study possible components degradation, and (iii) to investigate two-phase expansion. |
Title | Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) test rig |
Description | The experimental apparatus is a small-scale 1-kWe ORC test rig aiming at investigating the part-load performance of an ORC engine with multiple working fluids and varying architectures. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | The testing facility is highly adjustable: all components can easily be replaced. It will not only be used to validate modelling tools developed in the laboratory but also to test innovative components, novel fluids and advanced control strategies. |
Title | Building heat recovery investment model. |
Description | The model allows the user to input the building electrical and heating demand and site constraints. An optimisation is then performed to find out the optimum combination of heat recovery technologies according to a specific indicator input by the user (e.g. 5-year NPV). The model output the best combination of heat recovery technologies and the optimal way they should be controlled. |
Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
Year Produced | 2016 |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | The model was applied to quantify and indicate the best investment in heat recovery technology to 2 very large companies. |
Title | CAMD-ORC framework model |
Description | The CAMD-ORC framework is a systematic method for optimal design of organic Rankine cycle systems for waste heat recovery applications. The framework integrates working fluid design/selection and cycle optimisation into a single stage, thus eliminating the pre-emptive and subjective screening of working fluid that is associated with the two-level design method. The framework has been extended to account for the design of refrigerate working fluids. |
Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | The proposed research method offers a unique approach for the simultaneous design of working fluid and organic Rankine cycle systems, facilitating the selection of an economically-viable systems. The findings from this work have been published in conference proceedings and journal papers. |
Title | Database of ORC units |
Description | A model indicating the costs (including installation costs), technical characteristics, and performance curves of different ORC unit |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | The technology database represents the building block of the model described in the previous part. |
Title | Lumped-mass model for simulation and optimisation of reciprocating-piston devices |
Description | The thermodynamic model that has been developed is of a reciprocating-piston device, which could be a compressor or expander. By calculating the fluid flows and various loss mechanisms in the device, it allows predictions to be made of the performance of the system on the basis of readily-available geometric measurements, and draws on physical principles rather than relying on extensive experimental data for capturing the various phenomena that take place. It therefore offers a useful design tool for researchers wishing to understand device performance and manufacturers seeking to design and optimise new and existing systems. The principles and equations underpinning the model have been published in several conference articles and a journal paper (doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.12.086). Extensions to the model since its first publication have added the ability to track cycle-resolved exergy destruction (destruction of the ability to do work) and assign these losses to particular mechanisms. This extends the insight available to the designer as to how to address and resolve these losses. There are no legal or ethical constraints affecting the sharing of the model. |
Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | The model has been used in two main areas: piston expanders for organic Rankine cycle (ORC) engines, and compressors for compressed air energy storage. In the former, piston expanders are not yet a mature technology for ORC applications, so there is very little experimental data available. The model therefore allows exploratory studies to be conducted, for example to assess different working fluids or to compare piston expanders against other devices. A journal paper has been published on off-design performance of an ORC system with a piston expander, drawing on the ability of the model to provide predictions at on- and off-design conditions. Multiple conference papers have been presented, including on the model itself, on piston expander performance maps, comparing piston expanders against screw expanders, and against turbines, and comparing ORC and CO2 cycles. |
Title | Thermo-economic models for ORC and CO2 based cycle systems |
Description | Thermodynamic and economic models of both ORC and CO2 based cycle have been established in Matlab code and validated by the data in previous literatures. Various cycle configurations are considered and both piston reciprocating expander and radial-inflow turbine are employed. The models allow comparison of the two types of cycles and can generate techno-economic performance maps. |
Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | The models established allow comparison of ORC and CO2 based cycle system for different heat source conditions and can generate techno-economic performance maps to provide suggestions for system preliminary design. |
Description | CFD of Reciprocating Piston Machines - Professor Pietro De Palma |
Organisation | Polytechnic University of Bari |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have made available a series of experimentally validated CFD codes developed during the Pumped Thermal Electricity Storage (PTES) project, as well as personnel to support the collaborative activities of this interaction. Specifically, Dr. Paul Sapin is working closely with Mr. Giuseppe Rotolo who is visiting us for 6-months from Professor Pietro De Palma's group at Politecnico di Bari. |
Collaborator Contribution | Professor De Palma is an expert in CFD and in particular in conjugate-heat-transfer problems in complex geometries. We have began a collaboration on applications of these advanced tools to reciprocating piston machines. We are currently hosting Mr. Giuseppe Rotolo, a student from Professor Pietro De Palma's group, who is working with personnel from my group to extend our gas spring CFD tools. Professor De Palma recently (mid-March 2017) visited us, gave an open cross-Departmental seminar on this work, and had update meetings with the team of researchers that are working in this area. |
Impact | Advanced CFD tools in OpenFOAM with an extended ability to solve the full conjugate thermal problem inside reciprocating piston machines. The collaboration has only just started so these activities are on-going. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Collaboration on BONSAI project |
Organisation | Brunel University London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | BONSAI features 6 interconnected work packages (WP) with well-defined deliverables and milestones; Professor Christos Markides will be responsible for overall coordination and project management (WP1). Experimental activities at Imperial College London will be undertaken by RA (Dr. Suryanarayan Lakshminarayanan) & PhD (Mr. Zengchao Chen), who will apply complementary approaches, focusing on different flow aspects and applying a suite of different measurement techniques (2-colour Laser-induced fluorescence, Particle Image Velocimetry and high-speed videography). Matching numerical simulations will be conducted by Professor Mirco Magnini and Professor Omar Matar to compare with experiments and perform parametric studies. The new database will be merged with existing ones from Brunel University London. |
Collaborator Contribution | Develop unique experimental capabilities and advanced optical-diagnostic methods capable of high-spatiotemporal-resolution, simultaneous measurements of interfacial, wall and bulk-flow quantities, and of important global features of boiling flows in small/microchannels. Apply the methodology developed to produce a detailed map of, spatiotemporal phase, velocity, and temperature information. |
Impact | NA. Since the facility is currently being developed in Imperial College London, no experiments have been conducted so far. However, benchmarking experiments are expected to tentatively commence from late March 2022. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Collaboration on BONSAI project |
Organisation | University of Nottingham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | BONSAI features 6 interconnected work packages (WP) with well-defined deliverables and milestones; Professor Christos Markides will be responsible for overall coordination and project management (WP1). Experimental activities at Imperial College London will be undertaken by RA (Dr. Suryanarayan Lakshminarayanan) & PhD (Mr. Zengchao Chen), who will apply complementary approaches, focusing on different flow aspects and applying a suite of different measurement techniques (2-colour Laser-induced fluorescence, Particle Image Velocimetry and high-speed videography). Matching numerical simulations will be conducted by Professor Mirco Magnini and Professor Omar Matar to compare with experiments and perform parametric studies. The new database will be merged with existing ones from Brunel University London. |
Collaborator Contribution | Develop unique experimental capabilities and advanced optical-diagnostic methods capable of high-spatiotemporal-resolution, simultaneous measurements of interfacial, wall and bulk-flow quantities, and of important global features of boiling flows in small/microchannels. Apply the methodology developed to produce a detailed map of, spatiotemporal phase, velocity, and temperature information. |
Impact | NA. Since the facility is currently being developed in Imperial College London, no experiments have been conducted so far. However, benchmarking experiments are expected to tentatively commence from late March 2022. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Collaboration on micro-channel heat exchangers |
Organisation | Hubbard Products |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | This collaboration is at very early stages. We intend to support the R&D activities of Hubbard in the area of micro-channel heat exchangers for refrigeration equipment, by providing proved correlations for heat transfer from our experimental and numerical work. |
Collaborator Contribution | Hubbard Products will ensure the results and outputs from the work in BONSAI will find applications in industry, in particular refrigeration equipment. |
Impact | On-going collaboration has just started. |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Collaboration with Mitsubishi Electric |
Organisation | Mitsubishi Electric |
Country | Japan |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | We have provided a detailed review report of the Spatial GB Clean Heat Pathway Model. Results were presented from assessments relating to the modelling framework, key assumptions, equations and validation, technology representation, optimisation approach, computational efficiency, flexibility and user interface. We are also collaborating on the low-GWP heat pump systems, including promising refrigerants, emerging technologies and advanced control strategies. |
Collaborator Contribution | Mitsubishi Electric has provided detailed technology model inputs, validation and feedback. |
Impact | The collaboration of our research group and Mitsubishi Electric has resulted to the identification of design and operation strategies that can be used in whole-energy system models to indicate the full techno-economic potential of different technology options. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Comparison of ORC and CO2 based cycle systems |
Organisation | Tsinghua University China |
Country | China |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | As part of this research effort our team established thermo-economic models for different cycles and expanders. This research is pertinent for the comparison of CO2-cycle and ORC with both piston reciprocating expanders and radial-inflow turbines for various heat source conditions. |
Collaborator Contribution | One visiting postdoc from the collaborating institution came in 2018 and established models for CO2 based cycles and radial-inflow turbine. |
Impact | 1 x conference paper accepted: (1) 5th Sustainable Thermal Energy Management International Conference. 2 x journal paper in preparation (aimed submission March 2019.) |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Dearman Engine Company |
Organisation | Dearman |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | The collaboration has been undertaken to increase the technology readiness of Dearman's liquid air/nitrogen engine for mobile refrigeration applications. My colleagues and I have provided expertise in heat transfer, modelling and analysis of test data in order to scrutinise the modelling and testing work previously carried out by the company, identify flaws and recommend improvements. This has helped to increase the fidelity of their modelling work and provide confidence to third-party stakeholders in the performance of the Dearman engine and the associated system. Ongoing work is looking in greater depth at a possible enhancement to the technology, which could deliver greater system efficiency. This work involves further modelling and validation of these models with an experimental campaign. |
Collaborator Contribution | In return, Dearman have supplied test data and simulation tools, and granted access to their experimental test facilities. They have supplied both current and future system designs and detailed schematics, as well as answering a range of in-depth questions about their hardware and modelling approaches. We have worked closely with Dearman to understand the technical challenges they face and how applied research can be directed to produce maximum benefit. Dearman have also provided advice on how to overcome practical challenges in our own experimental work, for example regarding export of electricity to the grid. |
Impact | The main outcomes have been two technical reports, on the environmental performance of the Dearman engine relative to the incumbent diesel technologies, and on the efficiency of the system under different operating conditions. The latter was accompanied by two brief memoranda on the testing campaigns carried out by Dearman, expressing an independent view on the validity and accuracy of the results. A further outcome has been the award of internal funding from Imperial to extend the collaboration, with the support of two PDRAs and two academics. This project has only recently begun and has not yet delivered outcomes. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Integration of radial inflow turbine model into an existing CAMD-ORC framework. |
Organisation | University of Cambridge |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The team at Imperial College London carried out the implementation of radial inflow turbine performance map into an existing CAMD-ORC framework. In addition, an ORC system optimisation under time-varying heat source conditions has been completed. The findings from this research is expected to be published in the proceedings of the upcoming ECOS 2019 conference. |
Collaborator Contribution | The team at University of Cambridge carried out the development and validation of radial inflow turbine model. |
Impact | One (1) conference paper to be presented at the 32nd International Conference on Efficiency, Cost, Optimisation, Simulation and Environmental Impact of Energy Systems (ECOS 2019). This collaboration work is multi-disciplinary as it involves research colleagues from Chemical Engineering and Molecular Systems Engineering. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Joint PhD student program with China Scholarship Council |
Organisation | Tianjin University |
Country | China |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We accommodated a visiting PhD student from China for a year to assist our work on heat-power generation |
Collaborator Contribution | One visiting PhD student from the collaborating institution came in 2018. The student has helped with setting up an test-rig for organic Rankine cycles and performed modellings on the relevant power cycles. |
Impact | 3 x conference papers submitted: (1) 31st International Conference on Efficiency, Cost, Optimisation, Simulation and Environmental Impact of Energy Systems (ECOS 2019); (2) 5th Sustainable Thermal Energy Management International Conference (SusTEM 2019); (3) 5th International Seminar on ORC Power Systems (ORC 2019). 1 x journal paper in preparation (aimed submission Mar. 2019). |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Joint PhD student program with China Scholarship Council |
Organisation | Xi'an Jiaotong University |
Country | China |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We accommodated a visiting PhD student from China for a year to assist our work on heat-power generation. |
Collaborator Contribution | One visiting PhD student from the collaborating institution came in 2019. The student has performed off-design and dynamic modelling on power cycles such as organic Rankine cycle and combined cycles. |
Impact | One conference paper submitted to ECOS2020 and one journal paper is in preparation. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Optimal Refrigeration and Thermal Energy Storage Integration |
Organisation | Flexible Power Systems Ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Comprehensive thermodynamic modelling and operational optimisation of a two-stage CO2 booster both in sub- and trans-critical operation. |
Collaborator Contribution | The project aims to shift refrigeration loads to enable cost savings and operational flexibility in a future power constrained energy market. |
Impact | Comprehensive CO2-booster model validated against time-resolved data from Sainsbury's |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Tests and modelling of the reciprocating piston Dearman engine |
Organisation | Dearman |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | My team has developed an experimental facility, testing protocols and various models of gas spring and compressor/expander machines. Dearman's technology is exactly this type of engine and is a novel development that could benefit from the insight and tools we have developed over the course of the Pumped Thermal Electricity Storage (PTES) project. |
Collaborator Contribution | The relationship is in its early days, but we are currently discussing exchange of data and a joint project to support Dearman in the further development of their next-generation machines. There has also been discussion of access to a Dearman engine for testing and further development of hardware and software tools. This may involved direct funding and certainly some in-kind support but the details are not yet finalised. |
Impact | On-going. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Title | Software - Real time optimisation and control of CHP energy system |
Description | Given a CHP energy system, the software acquires data. The software then performs a real-time optimisation to understand the optimum values of the actuators (e.g. CHP part load) so that the system can best utilise its resources including the waste heat streams. |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Open Source License? | Yes |
Impact | The software is being applied to improve the efficiency of a supermarket. And has the potential to be applied in many more, decrease the energy (and heat) waste of CHP engine. |
Description | Centrica: CHP manufacturer - data and technology sharing for feasibility analysis purposes - 2017 |
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 | Centrica: CHP manufacturer - data and technology sharing for feasibility analysis purposes - 2017 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Doosan: CHP manufacturer - data and technology sharing for feasibility analysis purposes - 2018 |
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 | Doosan: CHP manufacturer - data and technology sharing for feasibility analysis purposes - 2018 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Enogia: ORC manufacturer - data and technology sharing for feasibility analysis purposes - 2017 |
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 | Enogia: ORC manufacturer - data and technology sharing for feasibility analysis purposes - 2017 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | GMK: ORC manufacturer - data and technology sharing for feasibility analysis purposes - 2017 |
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 | GMK: ORC manufacturer - data and technology sharing for feasibility analysis purposes - 2017 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Industrial partership - AGCCE |
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 | Participation in project update meetings and mutliple calls. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017,2018,2019 |
Description | Industrial partership - ALFA LAVAL |
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 | A few meetings and calls about advanced heat exchangers |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019 |
Description | Industrial partership - BASEPOWER |
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 | A few meetings and calls. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019 |
Description | Industrial partership - DEARMAN |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Multiple interactions. Consultancy work and joint project application. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019 |
Description | Industrial partership - IAV |
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 | A few meeting and calls. Discussion ongoing about prototype testing |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019 |
Description | Industrial partership - LIBERTINE |
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 | Experimental support in testing prototype. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019 |
Description | Industrial partership - NSG |
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 | A few meetings and calls. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019 |
Description | Industrial partership - PRAXAIR |
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 | A few visits and calls. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019 |
Description | Industrial partership - PSE ENTERPRISE |
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 | Supporting in code development in gProms |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019 |
Description | Industrial partership - SOLAR POLAR |
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 | Support in prototype development. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019 |
Description | Industrial partership - ST GOBAIN |
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 | Multiple visits and calls. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017,2018,2019 |
Description | Invited to attend UK-China Cold Chain Workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited to attend UK-China Cold Chain Workshop, held in Gansu, China, 6-8 March |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | National Representative Participant in Royal Society/Chinese Academy of Sciences Policy Dialogue on Energy Storage, Dalian |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | National Representative Participant in Royal Society/Chinese Academy of Sciences Policy Dialogue on Energy Storage, Dalian, 16-17 Jan, 2019 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Rank: ORC manufacturer - data and technology sharing for feasibility analysis purposes - 2017 |
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 | Rank: ORC manufacturer - data and technology sharing for feasibility analysis purposes - 2017 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Zudek: Absorption chiller manufacturer - data and technology sharing for feasibility analysis purposes - 2018 |
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 | Zudek: Absorption chiller manufacturer - data and technology sharing for feasibility analysis purposes - 2018 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |