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Performance enhancement of a thermally activated cooling system using microchannel heat exchangers.

Author(s) : WANG H., PETERSON R. B.

Type of article: Periodical article

Summary

A prototype that has succeeded in converting waste heat into cooling capacity could lead to new solutions to harness excess energy produced by systems. Over half of the energy produced by cars, factories and power plants is wasted; even very advanced electrical power plants only convert 40% of the energy produced into electricity and the internal combustion engines of automobiles only have a 25-40% conversion efficiency. The prototype “thermally activated cooling system” was designed by a team of Oregon State University engineers working on the capture and use of the type of low-to-medium grade waste heat rejected by vehicle exhaust pipes, diesel generators, factories and the like. It uses extraordinarily small microchannels in order to meet the performance, size and weight challenges and effectively combines a vapour-compression cycle and an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) using HFC-245fa. Based on simulations using hot oil at 200°C, up to 80% of waste heat capacity was successfully turned into cooling capacity; a much higher conversion ratio than for conversion into electricity (15-20%), according to the makers who claim this is only the beginning and hope to incorporate such systems into alternative or fossil-fuel technologies.

Details

  • Original title: Performance enhancement of a thermally activated cooling system using microchannel heat exchangers.
  • Record ID : 30002586
  • Languages: English
  • Publication date: 2011

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