Lead Performer: Oak Ridge National Laboratory – Oak Ridge, TN
June 22, 2023
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Lead Performer: Oak Ridge National Laboratory – Oak Ridge, TN
Partners:
-- Emerson Climate Technologies
-- Purdue University
DOE Total Funding: $700,000
Project Term: January 1, 2023 – January 1, 2024
Funding Type: Lab Award
Project Objective
This project will enable the development of compressors for low GWP (<150) refrigerants used in residential and light commercial A/C heat pumps. This development should reduce the direct CO2 emissions by 96.4% (32,500,000 tons of CO2 ), with potential energy savings up to 5.6% (37,934 TWh/year equivalent to 16,000,000 tons of CO2).
This project is comprised of three phases: literature review, compressor and heat exchanger modeling, and performance validation. The critical literature review involves an extensive assessment of various compressor technologies and refrigerants to identify the top two compressor technologies for residential A/C applications. The modeling phase optimizes a 3-ton RAC system's efficiency using low GWP refrigerants and selects the top two compressor/refrigerant combinations. The performance validation includes compressor performance validation and evaluation of the top compressor/refrigerant technology using a 3-ton RAC system with optimized heat exchangers.
Project Impact
The implementation of this project will be environmentally and financially beneficial in many areas. This project aids in heat pump electrification, which reduces reliance on fossil fuels for heating and cooling needs. Integration these heat pumps with smart grids supports grid stability when using renewable energy sources. The transition from electric heating to heat pumps significantly reduces energy bills for low-income individuals.
Contacts
DOE Technology Manager: Payam Delgoshaei
Lead Performer: Junjie Luo