SBIR Phase I: A Highly Efficient Thermally Activated Heat Pump for Heating/Cooling

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目将建造和运行一个概念验证热泵机组，其效率高于商用溴化锂吸收式制冷机。这类热泵既可用于制冷，也可用于供暖，建造成本更低，操作更容易，占地面积更小，预计比商用的溴化锂制冷机使用时间更长。它们可以由低成本太阳能集热器提供的低水平热量驱动。该系统中的材料基本无毒。目前，能源部正在考虑将效率更低、成本更高的氨水吸收热泵用于供暖，尽管这类系统不适合使用低至70摄氏度的热量。这项研究的更广泛/商业影响是将供暖燃料消耗从传统炉子降低45%以上，使来自低成本太阳能集热器、发动机冷却水或其他低水平热量(低至70摄氏度)的热量能够用于空调和/或热效率高于100%的供暖。广泛使用这项技术可能会在这个国家节省5%-10%的能源，并极大地减少夏季电力需求高峰。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will build and operate a proof-of-concept unit of a thermally activated heat pump with a higher efficiency than the commercial LiBr absorption chiller. Such heat pumps, which can be used for both cooling and heating, are cheaper to build, easier to operate, has a smaller footprint, and are expected to last longer than the commercial LiBr chillers. They can be driven by low level heat from low cost solar collectors. The materials in the system are basically non-toxic. Currently, commercialization of the less efficient and more costly aqua-ammonia absorption heat pump for heating is being considered by DOE although such systems are not suitable for using heat as low as 70o C. The broader/commercial impacts of this research are reducing the fuel consumption for heating by more than 45% from the conventional furnaces, enabling utilization of heat from low cost solar collectors, engine cooling-water, or other low level heat as low as 70o C for air conditioning and/or heating with greater than 100% ?thermal efficiency?. Wide use of this technology can potentially save 5-10% of the energy used in this country and greatly reduce the summer electricity demand peaks.