Short Summary
Energy Shaver
Project
James Lester
99-16
EISG Project Title: Energy Shaver – A
Thermal Energy Storage Device for Air Conditioners
EISG Grant Number: 99-16
PIER Area: Building End-Use Efficiency
Principal Investigator: James Lester
Contact Information: (970) 963-2517 jlester@sopris.net
Organization: Redstone Engineering Consulting Inc.
Grant Amount: $74,695
Grant Term: 8 Months
Project Description:
The purpose of this project is to research the feasibility of increasing the efficiency of residential air conditioners through the use of a phase change material (salt hydrate) to augment the cooling of the condensed Freon. A subscale prototype of the proposed heat exchanger will be fabricated and tested. System would be designed as a retrofit package for existing AC systems.
Proposed Outcomes:
· Mathematical model of the proposed air conditioning system to verify efficiency improvements.
· Design for an efficient, low cost heat exchanger capable of cooling the condensed freon to 85 deg. F.
Anticipated Benefits:
· Increase the operating efficiency of residential air conditioners by up to 30%.
· Potential to reduce peak electric consumption in California through passive means by exploiting the large differential in day and night time temperatures that exists in the hottest regions of the state.