Revolutionary nano coatings, for enhanced heat transfer in heating and cooling applications

Project Information

NanoFLUX

Grant agreement ID: 888350

DOI

10.3030/888350

Project closed

EC signature date 6 December 2019

Start date 1 January 2020

End date 30 April 2020

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

OXFORD NANOSYSTEMS LTD
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NanoFLUX (Revolutionary nano coatings, for enhanced heat transfer in heating and cooling applications)

Reporting period: 2020-01-01 to 2020-04-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Oxford nanoSystems Ltd (OnS) is a high-tech start-up that has developed a unique coating technology to improve the efficiency of heat transfer, e.g. the heat exchange coefficient by up to 500% in two phase heat exchangers.
Oxford nanoSystems’ innovation, nanostructured heat transfer coatings, nanoFLUX®, represents a rare step-change in the efficiency of heat exchangers, a technology which has seen little improvement for many decades. OnS demonstrated a prototype heat exchanger, as used in air conditioning systems, with an increase in heat transfer of over 330%, equating to a size reduction of over 70%. OnS’ products are able to substantially improve the efficiency of air condition systems, one of the EU’s primary climate goals.

Successful market entry for nanoFLUX® will help boost the position of EU-based heat exchanger manufacturers and reverse a decline in the EU’s leadership in sustainable and innovative heat transfer technologies.

In this project a technical analysis was provided. Oxford nanoSystems’ nanoFLUX® technology and its performance improvements for various markets were analysed. Applications of the coating technology were investigated, and as a result the main target markets and a business model were provided in greater detail.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

OnS’ main technology was explained. A market analysis was provided for the various applications of the nanoFLUX® coating solution.

Different enhancements for the coating were discussed. A market entry strategy was developed. The main markets will be thermal management of Electronics Cooling, the Shell & Tube heat exchanger markets for Industrial and Commercial HVACR and the Brazed Plate Heat Exchanger market.

The market sizes, market drivers and growth drivers were thoroughly analyzed. Main target customers were identified and some of them approached, with NDAs signed. A lot of details were put into the analysis of the electronics cooling market.

Two potential business models were developed.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

n a next step the main target customers will be approached, liquid cooling system vendors, server OEMs, the defence and aerospace industry, and CPU, GPU and ASIC vendors.
Both business models will be put into place: coating as a service operated from OnS’ premises (used for smaller items) and licensing OnS’ technology and coating plant design to major customers.
The markets OnS can service is huge, with potentially big number of job creations following.
The primary goal in the air conditioning/refrigeration industry is to reduce environmentally damaging refrigerants. These refrigerants are in the process of being phased out and the next generation of fluids are much less efficient and much more expensive. OnS’ products are improving the efficiency and reducing the volumes needed of these fluids and thus helping the EU reach its ambitious climate goals.

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