Thermal Management Controller for Domestic Micro-generation Systems

This project is concerned with the development of a novel thermal management controller (TMC) for micro-Combined Heat and power (micro-CHP) systems. Stirling-engine based units for providing heat and electricity for individual houses are increasingly of interest and several units are entering the marketplace.

However, their economic operation and their ability to satisfy user heat demands could be much improved by a more sophisticated thermal management system that combines highly effective storage of heat with the ability to release such stored energy in amounts and at times to accurately meet the nees of the consumer.

Using phase change materials with high thermal conductivity (istead of a large water storage tank) and an innovative 'heat pipe' for controlling heat release, the partners believe that their TMC will accelerate the take-up of domestic micro-CHP, as well as having applications at the larger scale.