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

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）一期项目将建造并运行一个热激活热泵的概念验证单元，其效率高于商用溴化锂吸收式制冷机。这种热泵既可用于制冷，也可用于制热，造价更便宜，操作更容易，占地面积更小，并且预计比商用溴化锂冷却器使用寿命更长。它们可以由低成本太阳能集热器产生的低水平热量驱动。系统中的材料基本上是无毒的。目前，美国能源部正在考虑将效率较低、成本较高的水-氨吸收式热泵用于供暖，尽管这种系统不适合使用低至700摄氏度的热量。这项研究的广泛/商业影响是将传统炉的供暖燃料消耗减少45%以上，使低成本太阳能集热器、发动机冷却水、或其他低至70°C的低水平加热，用于空调和/或加热大于100% ？热效率?。这项技术的广泛应用可以节省该国5-10%的能源使用，并大大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.