SBIR Phase I: Refrigeration Microvalve

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目将开发一种用于控制制冷剂流体的主动式微阀。该设备旨在用于冰箱和空调，在可靠性、效率和成本方面将达到或超过严格的行业标准。一个关键的目标是将一种有前途的学术压电致动器转化为工业致动器。该项目的智能优势体现在两个主要领域：1)高冲程、高作用力的压电致动器与高可靠性硅微阀衬底的单片集成；2)新型流体流动通道几何结构的研究，包括文丘里通道，旨在通过比例控制实现可变限制，降低噪音，降低堵塞敏感性。预计这两个领域都将面临重大挑战。然而，这些努力的成功融合将产生一种突破性的微型阀，非常适合于所有制冷和空调应用的能效和主动制冷剂控制。该项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力包括开发一种为大批量制造而设计的集成式、部件级微型阀。另一个目标是在美国本土发展制造业基础设施，利用美国农村的机会，特别是怀俄明州的机会。社会效益包括显著节约能源的明显效益。制冷能效有可能提高20%，而空调的能效有望提高至少30%。这些节省与LED光源的预期节省相媲美。仅在美国，即使冰箱效率提高5%，每年也可以节省78亿千瓦时，按每千瓦时10美分计算，节省7.8亿美元。这将对减少环境排放产生长期影响，减少对新发电厂的需求，并增加其他关键支出的资本。医学应用有望在药物输送领域，特别是胰岛素。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 project will develop an active microvalve for control of refrigerant fluids. Intended for use in refrigerators and air conditioners, the device will meet or exceed stringent industry standards for reliability, efficiency, and cost. The transfer of a promising academic piezoelectric actuator to industry is a key objective. The intellectual merits of this project are found in two main areas: 1) the monolithic integration of a high-stroke, high-force piezoelectric actuatorwith a high reliability silicon microvalve substrate, and 2) the study of novel fluid flow path geometries, including venturi-like passages, intended to achieve a variable restriction with proportional control, reduced acoustic noise, and reduced susceptibility to clogging. Significant challenges are anticipated in both areas. However, the successful fusion of these efforts will result in a groundbreaking microvalve well suited for energy-efficient, active refrigerant control for all refrigeration and air conditioningapplications.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project includes the development of an integrated, component-level microvalve designed for high-volume manufacturing. A further goal is to develop a manufacturing infrastructure on US soil, taking advantage of opportunities in rural America, particularly focused on Wyoming. Societal benefits include the obvious benefits of significant energy savings. Refrigeration energy efficiency improvements of up to 20% are possible, while improvements of at least30% in air conditioning are anticipated. These savings rival the anticipated savings from LED light sources. In the US alone, even a 5% efficiency improvement in refrigerators translates to an annual savings of 7.8 billion kWh, or $780M at ten cents per kWh. This produces a long-term impact on reducedenvironmental emissions, reduced need for new power plants, and increased capital for other vital expenditures. Medical applications are anticipated in the areas of drug delivery, especially for insulin.