Lead Performer: University of Florida – Gainesville, FL
Partners:
-- Gas Technology Institute – Des Plaines, IL
-- Modine Manufacturing – Racine, WI
-- Utilization Technology Development – Des Plaines, IL
-- American Gas Association – Washington, DC
DOE Total Funding: $2,134,955
Cost Share: $427,175
Project Term: April, 2020 – March, 2023
Funding Type: Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers & Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT) 2019 Funding Opportunity
Project Objective
The project will develop a highly efficient, heat-driven, combined dehumidification and heat pump system. The breakthrough technology in system performance is made possible through innovations involving the use of non-crystallizing, nontoxic, low-cost ionic liquids, robust membrane-based heat and mass exchangers, and a novel absorption cycle developed at the University of Florida through prior BTO investment.
Project Impact
With a projected COPcombined of ~4 (consisting of COPcooling ~ or = 1.5 & COPheating ~ or = 2.5), this system presents a major advancement in liquid desiccant, with added heat pumping function, and separate sensible and latent cooling (SSLC) technologies. This breakthrough greatly increases the appeal and economics of gas heating and cooling systems proving a viable alternative to vapor compression systems. This technology could be operated by resistive heating and still be as cost-effective as the electricity-driven compressors, representing a fuel-agnostic hybrid cooling and heating system that operates with renewable electric energy when they are available and can switch to natural gas as the energy source at other times.
Contacts
DOE Technology Manager: Antonio Bouza
Lead Performer: Saeed Moghaddam, University of Florida
Related Publications
D. Chugh, K. Gluesenkamp, A. Abu-Heiba, M. Alipanah, A. Fazeli, R. Rode, M. Schmid, V. Patel, and S. Moghaddam, "Experimental Evaluation of a Semi-open Membrane-based Absorption Heat Pump System using Ionic Liquids," Applied Energy, vol. 239, pp. 919-927, 2019.
D. Chugh, K. Gluesenkamp, O. Abdelaziz, and S. Moghaddam, "Ionic liquid-based hybrid absorption cycle for water heating, dehumidification, and cooling," Applied Energy, vol. 202, pp. 746-754, 2017.