Spring Break
Generating heat from waste
Microproducts Breakthrough Institute teams up with OSU to utilize waste heat from diesel generators to cool instead of electricity
Ben Sundberg
Issue date: 4/16/09 Section: News
OSU researchers, in collaboration with the Microproducts Breakthrough Institute and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, are developing a new type of cooling unit that uses waste heat from diesel generators rather than electricity to cool military shelters and equipment. The prototype of this nearly four-year project is expected to be finished sometime this summer.
Approximately three years ago, the U.S. Army sent out a Broad Agency Announcement in which it stated the need for energy-efficient environmental control units, more commonly called air conditioners. OSU, MBI and PNNL responded with a proposal and won a contract and funding for the research and development of these units.
Currently, the U.S. Army uses large numbers of portable diesel generators to produce electricity, and that electricity is then used primarily to cool communications equipment and temporary buildings/tents.
In a recent lecture on sustainability, Ken Williamson, head of the school of chemical, biological and environmental engineering, said, "Only 25 percent of the energy content of gasoline [in internal combustion engine powered vehicles] goes to the wheels, the rest is released as heat."
What OSU researchers developed was a cooling system that essentially "recaptures the waste heat from these diesel generators and uses it to run air conditioners," according Richard Peterson, mechanical engineering professor and lead investigator of the project.
"There were two technical innovations which made this possible … efficient small scale vapor expanders … [and] micro-channel heat exchangers," Peterson said.
The project is still in the research and development phase, and it is therefore unclear when this technology will be available or applied in civilian settings. However, because the cost of these units will decrease when mass-produced, it is reasonable to expect the military to wait for the product to be available to civilians before it purchases any.
"The prototype proves that the technology is feasible only … the final product will be much different," Peterson said.
The prototype is currently being built using the facilities of both OSU and MBI. The team in charge of building it is comprised of several grad students, Dr. Peterson, Dr. Hailei Wang and various technicians.
Ben Sundberg, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
Approximately three years ago, the U.S. Army sent out a Broad Agency Announcement in which it stated the need for energy-efficient environmental control units, more commonly called air conditioners. OSU, MBI and PNNL responded with a proposal and won a contract and funding for the research and development of these units.
Currently, the U.S. Army uses large numbers of portable diesel generators to produce electricity, and that electricity is then used primarily to cool communications equipment and temporary buildings/tents.
In a recent lecture on sustainability, Ken Williamson, head of the school of chemical, biological and environmental engineering, said, "Only 25 percent of the energy content of gasoline [in internal combustion engine powered vehicles] goes to the wheels, the rest is released as heat."
What OSU researchers developed was a cooling system that essentially "recaptures the waste heat from these diesel generators and uses it to run air conditioners," according Richard Peterson, mechanical engineering professor and lead investigator of the project.
"There were two technical innovations which made this possible … efficient small scale vapor expanders … [and] micro-channel heat exchangers," Peterson said.
The project is still in the research and development phase, and it is therefore unclear when this technology will be available or applied in civilian settings. However, because the cost of these units will decrease when mass-produced, it is reasonable to expect the military to wait for the product to be available to civilians before it purchases any.
"The prototype proves that the technology is feasible only … the final product will be much different," Peterson said.
The prototype is currently being built using the facilities of both OSU and MBI. The team in charge of building it is comprised of several grad students, Dr. Peterson, Dr. Hailei Wang and various technicians.
Ben Sundberg, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
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