Sustainable Innovative Refrigeration and Air Conditioning - A Research Network

英国在制冷和空调(RAC)系统的设计和生产方面处于世界领先地位，很大一部分产出用于出口。此外，这些机组使用的全国发电量所占比例很大，因此它们作为一个整体是温室气体的重要生产者。然而，这些应用中的许多都展示了一种总体设计理念，强调以第一成本为基础，而不是高整体效率和低寿命碳排放。然而，与此形成对比的是，尽管不是完全如此，但英国正在开展的大部分学术工作都集中在解决全球变暖和可持续发展问题上。参与制冷和空调研究的重点大学有阿尔斯特大学、伦敦大学学院、布里斯托尔大学、布鲁内尔大学、伯明翰大学、剑桥大学、伦敦金融城大学、伦敦南岸大学、纽卡斯尔大学、诺丁汉大学和华威大学。不幸的是，学术机构之间的合作程度很低，在许多情况下，英国产业界和学术界之间的联系也很薄弱。大学研究不被认为是接近市场的，该行业往往意识不到有工业投入就可以商业开发的新的创新想法。这种开发往往是与欧洲合作伙伴联合进行的，因此英国任何潜在的工业优势都会丧失。因此，在实践中，英国行业内的创新水平是有限的，可以预见的是，从长远来看，随着全球变暖的担忧推动其他地区的研究，英国将失去其在RAC系统制造方面的主导地位。这项提议旨在通过建立一个学术和行业专家网络来解决这一问题。它将在三年内发展一个可持续创新制冷和空调(SIRAC)的自给自足的研究网络，该网络将向工业界、政府、更广泛的能源研究界和资助机构提供一个展示大学研究的窗口。其目的是促进学术界之间思想的自由流动和发展，打破合作的障碍。SIRAC将为战略规划和制定与英国行业需求相关的研究议程提供重点。它还将促进工业界和学术界之间的信息交流，并向业界传播有关工业利益的知识，这将对环境和战略能源问题做出重大贡献，并仍是英国PLC的一个关键工业部门。预计这项工作的结果将消除障碍，并大幅减少碳排放。网络成员将受益于各学科研究人员的互动，他们将能够确定战略协作，为未来的研究建立一个框架。该网络将组织研讨会和研究交流，以及侧重于行业联系、中小企业参与研究、提案撰写、研究方法、同行审查和国内和国际成员之间分享最佳做法的专门活动。

The UK is a world leader in the design and production of refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) systems with a large proportion of the output being exported. Also, the proportion of the national electricity generation used by such units is large and hence they are as a group a significant producer of greenhouse gases. However, many of these applications exhibit an overall design philosophy that emphasises a first cost basis rather than high overall efficiency and low life time carbon emissions. In contrast however, although not exclusively so, much of the academic work being carried out in the UK is focussed on tackling the issue of global warming and sustainability. The key Universities involved in aspects of refrigeration and air conditioning research are Ulster, UCL, Bristol, Brunel, Birmingham, Cambridge, City, London South Bank University, Newcastle, Nottingham and Warwick. Unfortunately, collaboration between academic institutions is low and the linkage between UK industry and academia is tenuous in many cases. University research is not considered to be near market and the Industry is often unaware of new and innovative ideas that with industrial input could be commercially developed. Such development is often carried out in conjunction with European partners and therefore any potential UK industrial advantage is lost. Consequently in practice, innovation levels within UK industry are limited and it can be foreseen that in the long term, with the concerns of global warming driving research elsewhere, the UK will loose its pre-eminent position in manufacturing of RAC systems. This proposal is intended to address this problem by creating a network of academic and industrial experts. It will develop over three years a self-sustaining research network in sustainable innovative refrigeration and air conditioning (SIRAC), which will provide a showcase for university research to industry, government, the wider energy research community and funding bodies. The aim is to facilitate the free flow and development of ideas between academia, breaking down barriers to collaboration. SIRAC will provide a focus for strategic planning and development of a research agenda relevant to the needs of the UK industry. It will also facilitate information exchange between industry and academia and to disseminate to the profession knowledge of industrial interest which will make a significant contribution to environmental and strategic energy concerns, as well as remain a key industrial sector in terms of UK PLC. It is anticipated that the outcome of this work will remove barriers and significant reductions in carbon emissions will result. The Network members will benefit from the interaction of researchers from disciplines, with whom they will be able to define strategic collaborations, establishing a framework for future research. The Network will organise workshops and research exchanges, as well as specialised events focused on industrial liaison, the involvement of SMEs in research, proposal writing, research methods, peer review and the sharing of best practice between members both nationally and internationally.