1.The research conducted by CNR ITAE under WP2 focused on developing scalable composite sorbents with sorption capacities of 0.8–1.2 g/g and enhanced sorption rates compared to conventional adsorbents. Key steps included selecting suitable porous matrices (vermiculite and silica gel) and salts, balancing properties such as hygroscopicity, stability, and cost. Thermal and adsorption properties were analyzed using advanced techniques, revealing critical issues like deliquescence and salt leakage, which can affect performance. Experimental results showed that vermiculite and silica gel composites exhibited distinct sorption behaviors, influenced by factors like nanoconfinement and pore size. Among tested materials, 45LiCl-V (vermiculite-based) and 25CaCl-SG (silica gel-based) were identified as the most stable, avoiding deliquescence under experimental conditions.
2.The research by UoB and GIEC-CAS focuses on WP3, involving the development of an ice slurry phase change system for efficient thermal and cold energy transport in air conditioning systems. This system uses supercooled water to improve flow characteristics and heat transfer. It comprises two cycles: a refrigerant cycle (with components like an evaporator and compressor) and a water circulation cycle (including a pump, ultrasonic crystallizer, and storage tank). The COP rises with increased supercooling (0.8°C to 3.2°C) but decreases slightly beyond 4°C due to ice blockage. The optimal range for supercooling is 2-3°C, achieving 96% of the maximum COP.
3.The UoB, UoG, and GIEC-CAS are collaborating on WP4 to study the formation and cold storage characteristics of carbon dioxide (CO2) hydrate under various gas-to-water (G-W) ratios, pressures, and system configurations. The key findings include:Cooling lowers reactant temperatures, increasing CO2 dissolution and hydrate formation, accompanied by a rise in temperature and a pressure drop. Besides, higher initial pressures and greater water volumes reduce induction times and enhance hydrate conversion rates by promoting molecular interactions and phase transitions.Dynamic mode produces up to 2.3 times more hydrate than static mode but does not always achieve higher cold storage capacity. For example, at a G-W ratio of 4:1, static mode stored 217.3 kJ compared to 160 kJ in dynamic mode, due to lower temperatures enhancing energy retention in static mode.
4.This WP5 will be led by UoG firstly develop steady thermodynamic models based on a lumped-parameter model in Matlab, by neglecting the pressure and heat losses along the pipes. Then UoG develop process system models in Matlab-gPROMS coupled environment containing design information (e.g. configuration of the sorption reactors and/or heat exchangers) and operation conditions (e.g. ambient condition and users’ demands, operating pressure, temperature, mass flow rate, etc.)
5.The WP6 collaboration between GEIRI and UoB focuses on the life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA) of heating systems, emphasizing sustainability and efficiency.The LCA, conducted using a gate-to-gate approach, compared three heating systems: Conventional Heat Pump (HP), Water Source Heat Pump (WSHP), and Phase Change Material Heat Pump (PCMHP).LCOH was reduced by 11.5% in WSHP and 5.5% in PCMHP compared to Conventional HP. WSHP had the highest impacts in 13 categories due to additional storage tank energy use, despite sharing electricity consumption with Conventional HP. PCMHP reduced energy consumption by 28.5% and carbon emissions by 22% compared to Conventional HP.
