Periodic Reporting for period 1 - DAC (Dynamic Air Cooling) (Breakthrough cold generation technology for efficient & environmentally-friendly cooling.)
Reporting period: 2022-07-01 to 2023-06-30
Air conditioning (AC) & refrigeration (both operate on the same principle) make hot places liveable, save lives, improve education and boost productivity. As income rises and population grows, especially in the world’s hotter regions, the use of air conditioners is becoming increasingly common. Refrigerators help preserve food and medicines and are typically one of the first appliances to be bought once an electricity connection becomes available to a household.
Cooling represents a global environmental challenge and a major economic opportunity. Almost all cooling units today are created based on vapour compression technology that is more than 100 years old and is a source of major problems. First, it requires a lot of energy— the United States already uses more energy to cool buildings than the whole continent of Africa uses for everything.
Cooling is still overwhelmingly powered by electricity produced by burning fossil fuels which increases the emissions of greenhouse gases. For example, Saudi Arabia will soon require more energy for AC than it currently exports as oil. Globally the amount of energy used in cooling will overtake that used in heating by 2060 (1. S. Hsiang. Global non-linear effect of temperature on economic production (Dec 2015)).
Second, AC/refrigeration units are made with fluorinated gases such as hydrofluorocarbons. When they leak into the atmosphere, they trap up to 4,000X more heat than CO2 does.
Fluorinated gases are used to remove energy from air that is being cooled. This energy in form of heat is then disseminated into atmosphere further boosting global warming.
Dynamic Air Cooling (DAC) is a fundamentally new cooling technology. It cools down warm air by decreasing its internal energy. It uses no harmful hydrofluorocarbons and does not emit any heat. Compared with traditional cooling technologies, DAC is 30% more energy efficient. Due to a simpler design, it also requires up to 30% less CAPEX and is on average 20% smaller. DAC is versatile and can be used in a variety of cooling applications: from domestic fridges and car ACs to industrial cooling systems and LNG terminals. DAC is a new environmentally friendly, affordable technology set to disrupt the cooling industry.
Cooling represents a global environmental challenge and a major economic opportunity. Almost all cooling units today are created based on vapour compression technology that is more than 100 years old and is a source of major problems. First, it requires a lot of energy— the United States already uses more energy to cool buildings than the whole continent of Africa uses for everything.
Cooling is still overwhelmingly powered by electricity produced by burning fossil fuels which increases the emissions of greenhouse gases. For example, Saudi Arabia will soon require more energy for AC than it currently exports as oil. Globally the amount of energy used in cooling will overtake that used in heating by 2060 (1. S. Hsiang. Global non-linear effect of temperature on economic production (Dec 2015)).
Second, AC/refrigeration units are made with fluorinated gases such as hydrofluorocarbons. When they leak into the atmosphere, they trap up to 4,000X more heat than CO2 does.
Fluorinated gases are used to remove energy from air that is being cooled. This energy in form of heat is then disseminated into atmosphere further boosting global warming.
Dynamic Air Cooling (DAC) is a fundamentally new cooling technology. It cools down warm air by decreasing its internal energy. It uses no harmful hydrofluorocarbons and does not emit any heat. Compared with traditional cooling technologies, DAC is 30% more energy efficient. Due to a simpler design, it also requires up to 30% less CAPEX and is on average 20% smaller. DAC is versatile and can be used in a variety of cooling applications: from domestic fridges and car ACs to industrial cooling systems and LNG terminals. DAC is a new environmentally friendly, affordable technology set to disrupt the cooling industry.
Within the scope of the first part of the EIC Accelerator project, DAC team focused on further development of the technology, finalisation of the key components preparation and assembling the prototypes for identified clients. We finalised development of airflow generation module and updated it for industrial operations. The team analyzed existing air compression methods and selected the most suitable approach for DAC application. All samples were tested and a decision about cooperation with a best-fit supplier was made based on DAC methodology for evaluation of technical and commercial parameters. At the same time, it is worth mentioning that currently there is no off-the-shelf solution which fully meets DAC requirements. At a later stage of development team plans to engage selected supplier in joint R&D and modifications of existing compressors.
The task of thermal energy recuperation was approached through a design and creation of a combination of a high-speed turbine and electricity generation module. DAC team designed and produced several turbines. They were tested in combination with an electric generator. The results of the tests validated the efficiency of the process but resulted in increased weight of the unit, the complexity of electrical components, higher cost, and other signs of overengineering.
The DAC team managed to simplify the construction of the device by applying turbine work for the purposes of generating a secondary airflow, supporting operations of the primary compressor, and increasing the overall efficiency of the device.
The DAC team has successfully applied the proposed modifications to the module. Testing and modifications process continue.
During the prototyping stage of R&D works DAC team analysed and evaluated several approaches to prototype construction, its internal layout and combination with the off-shelf compressor.
DAC Team prepared several designs, including DAC unit test bench, universal cooling module, and automotive DAC refrigeration system. Applied components were selected based on previous stages of the R&D process.
DAC team selected the optimal composition and design for the current stage of project development. At the same time, we foresaw possible changes of the layout in the future based on the initial trials and feedback from customers.
The task of thermal energy recuperation was approached through a design and creation of a combination of a high-speed turbine and electricity generation module. DAC team designed and produced several turbines. They were tested in combination with an electric generator. The results of the tests validated the efficiency of the process but resulted in increased weight of the unit, the complexity of electrical components, higher cost, and other signs of overengineering.
The DAC team managed to simplify the construction of the device by applying turbine work for the purposes of generating a secondary airflow, supporting operations of the primary compressor, and increasing the overall efficiency of the device.
The DAC team has successfully applied the proposed modifications to the module. Testing and modifications process continue.
During the prototyping stage of R&D works DAC team analysed and evaluated several approaches to prototype construction, its internal layout and combination with the off-shelf compressor.
DAC Team prepared several designs, including DAC unit test bench, universal cooling module, and automotive DAC refrigeration system. Applied components were selected based on previous stages of the R&D process.
DAC team selected the optimal composition and design for the current stage of project development. At the same time, we foresaw possible changes of the layout in the future based on the initial trials and feedback from customers.
The first year of the project confirmed the correctness of the selected methodology and selected approach as well opened new opportunities for implementation of DAC units. For example, cooling units based on utilisation of compressed air are highly required for cooling of underground /closed premises, where application of CO2, ammonia, or HFC freon-based solutions is not possible – mines, underground storage facilities, etc.
Team completed all goals of the project. Firmware and electronic engineering are at v.0.8 and will require additional effort in the future.
During the duration of the first part of the project we have managed to identify several areas of efficiency improvement:
- Further R&D of the high-speed turbines (60000 RPMs) is crucial
- Modification of the compressor parameters (massflow and pressure) and their automatic adjustment depending on temperature settings (automation of the cooling process) is still work in process due to delays in communication with overseas supplier.
- Operational noise reduction.
During the first year team successfully negotiated PoC with prominent customers in the EU, US, Japan, and plans to continue engagement with such customers in the future.
One of the key needs at this stage will be increase of headcount and ensuring stable R&D and prototyping process.
Team completed all goals of the project. Firmware and electronic engineering are at v.0.8 and will require additional effort in the future.
During the duration of the first part of the project we have managed to identify several areas of efficiency improvement:
- Further R&D of the high-speed turbines (60000 RPMs) is crucial
- Modification of the compressor parameters (massflow and pressure) and their automatic adjustment depending on temperature settings (automation of the cooling process) is still work in process due to delays in communication with overseas supplier.
- Operational noise reduction.
During the first year team successfully negotiated PoC with prominent customers in the EU, US, Japan, and plans to continue engagement with such customers in the future.
One of the key needs at this stage will be increase of headcount and ensuring stable R&D and prototyping process.