Thermal Management Controller for Domestic Micro-generation Systems

本项目涉及微型热电联产系统的新型热管理控制器（TMC）的开发。以斯特林发动机为基础，为个人住宅提供热量和电力的装置越来越受到关注，一些装置正在进入市场。然而，它们的经济运行和满足用户热需求的能力可以通过一个更复杂的热管理系统得到很大的改善，该系统将高效的热量储存与释放这种储存能量的能力结合起来，在数量和时间上准确地满足消费者的需求。使用具有高导热性的相变材料（代替大型储水箱）和创新的“热管”来控制热量释放，合作伙伴相信他们的TMC将加速国内微型热电联产的普及，并在更大规模上应用。

This project is concerned with the development of a novel thermal management controller (TMC) for micro-Combined Heat and power (micro-CHP) systems. Stirling-engine based units for providing heat and electricity for individual houses are increasingly of interest and several units are entering the marketplace.However, their economic operation and their ability to satisfy user heat demands could be much improved by a more sophisticated thermal management system that combines highly effective storage of heat with the ability to release such stored energy in amounts and at times to accurately meet the nees of the consumer.Using phase change materials with high thermal conductivity (istead of a large water storage tank) and an innovative 'heat pipe' for controlling heat release, the partners believe that their TMC will accelerate the take-up of domestic micro-CHP, as well as having applications at the larger scale.