Xergy Inc. — Department of Energy SBIR Phase II: 03c

Description

The problem being addressed in this proposal is the current extensive use of energy hungry hot water heaters in both residential and commercial building in the United States. To date, attempts to create a low energy hybrid hot water heater (HWH) have resulted in hot water heaters that have high differential prices and significant noise and maintenance issues resulting in low sales and low value perception. This Phase IIB Sequential project would continue the development of Xergy’s next generation of low cost, no noise, and high efficiency hybrid hot water heaters which will be suitable for commercial adoption. Xergy Inc. directed by Principal Investigator, William Parmelee is proposing the following project: “Advanced Hybrid Waterheater using ECC”, under DOE TOPIC NO.: 03c. Phase I successfully created a New (Electrochemical) Compressor suitable for a 50 gallon Hybrid Hot Water System, that is more efficient than current mechanical compressors and that is also, noiseless, vibration free, modular and scalable utilizing nonGHG refrigerant (water). In Phase II the goal is to create a High Fidelity heat pump hybrid hot water heater in conjunction with General Electric (GE) containing an Electro Chemical Compressor (ECC). Xergy determined in Phase II that while the initial water based vapor phase compression cycle powered by an electrochemical compressor is technically viable; shifting to a metal hydride/Hydrogen sorption/desorption cycle will provide superior performance and reduce the size of the required compressor. Phase IIB In Phase IIB Sequential, Xergy proposes the development of an optimized integrated metal hydride/heat exchanger based heat pump system for a HWH. The key parameter controlling the efficiency of the system is the heat transfer between the hydride and the exterior of the heat exchanger. The need for this product is very clear. More than 70% of electric demand is utilized in buildings, and approximately 15% of residential electric demand is for hot water production. Anything that will reduce that individual subunit demand will significantly reduce our total energy demand, emissions and our dependence on foreign energy sources. This product would also reduce the use of GHG refrigerant, resulting in substantial environmental benefits. Utilizing this technology, would have farreaching positive effects on the HWH market by increasing market penetration for Hybrid units. This is a disruptive and transformational technology that in addition to the target of HHWH could be modified to other applications very easily and quickly for the following appliances: wine chillers, electronic cooling: basically anything that needs cooling above zero C. Keywords: compressors, compressor membranes, GE, hybrid hot water heaters, energy efficient hot water heaters, energy efficiency. This project entails the development of a compressor which can be used to drastically reduce the energy requirements for hot water heaters in the United States. More than 70% of electric demand is utilized in buildings, with the U.S government reporting that approximately 15% of residential electric demand is for hot water production.