At the Centre for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, research is conducted in:
The potential for use of the ground as a latent cooling resource in the UK has been reported by the Centre and this has resulted pioneering use of this sustainable resource in a number of high profile prototype applications. The Centre has investigated feasibility and economics of specific solutions and is leading experimental testing. Key to the use of the technology is the utilisation of low capital cost solutions, a number of which have been proposed by the Centre.
The Centre is working closely with geotechnical colleagues to investigate potential for large-scale energy storage schemes, and utilisation of the system in conjunction with other polygeneration systems with diurnal variations. The work of the Centre in this area has been widely reported in the media both internationally and nationally.
Fundamental work in the area of absorption refrigeration thermodynamics has been internationally reported and been incorporated into the latest ASHRAE Handbook. This has enabled studies in combined cooling, heat and power (CCHP), now reflected in modern thinking so that cogeneneration schemes are now seen as a major component in the UK Government strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Centre has pioneered new studies in sustainable cooling. This has involved the theoretical and experimental investigation of modern cooling tower technology as a sustainable cooling resource. The Centre is also investigated the large scale use of cooling, heat and power, and has pioneered the integration polygeneration techniques including the use of waste heat to desalinate waste water.
The Centre has been researching refrigeration systems and technology to reduce CO2 emissions. It has developed systems that incorporate night storage of energy using Phase Change Materials (PCMs) and has improved the efficiency of control systems through integration of PCMs. A high efficiency pumpless absorption chiller is currently being developed by the Centre; this technology offers significant improvement in efficiency compared with traditional heat powered cooling methods. The Centre has developed and patented a novel food display device, which will enable reductions in the incidence of food poisoning in the UK and elsewhere (estimated at 85M incidences per year in the UK and US). Two patents have been filed in this area. The problem of refrigerant leakage and CFC replacement was successfully addressed by the Centre, leading to international acceptance of hydrocarbons in place of ozone depleting chemicals. This resulted in revision of BS EN378 and created a new business area for Calor UK, with the Centre now advising McDonalds Corporation on worldwide application.
The Centre is a world leader in the use of air as a refrigerant. Air has been used as a benign and natural refrigerant in a number of applications including food processing (cooking, cooling, fast freezing, retail display and building air conditioning).
In the case of mathematical modelling, the Centre pioneered dynamic modelling of refrigeration systems, now a widely used tool. Modelling work has continued in the application of Thermoeconomics to building energy problems. As an example, optimisation studies have achieved reductions in energy usage of 35% in complex energy systems without additional expense. Modelling also led on to the seminal international study of compressor control by frequency modulation software, resulting in greatly improved air conditioning performance.
The team's examination and new understanding of retail food display refrigeration for Sainsbury's resulted in a number of new methods adopted by the industry, improving food hygiene and reducing operating cost tenfold. The group has identified the need for better modelling systems for underground railways, particularly in simulation of low energy technologies and is currently developing an industry led software tool. Mathematical models to understand complex interaction within the food cold chain have been developed by the Centre. These have included dynamic models of food storage and of food freezing and chilling operations. The Centre has extensive experience of using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) modelling to optimise and develop retail, commercial and domestic refrigeration systems.
The Centre has wide ranging expertise in the refrigeration of food. The team have detailed knowledge of both food quality and safety and also operation of refrigeration systems. This places them in a unique position to understand and optimise both food quality and the operation of the refrigeration equipment. The Centre has extensive experience in developing, optimising and testing food refrigeration systems and equipment in all areas of the food cold chain. Examples of typical projects include: optimisation of food refrigeration equipment and facilities (food processing, cold storage, retail display, commercial and domestic refrigeration), use of VIPs (Vacuum Insulated Panels), reducing infiltration in cold store entrances, reducing waste in the home, humidification to improve food quality, optimisation of food cutting technologies and design and development of novel food refrigeration systems.
Reducing energy is a vital part of the Centre's activities. Work has been carried out throughout the food cold chain to identify options to reduce energy consumption. In areas such as domestic refrigeration, work has been carried out to assist companies train staff and develop environmental refrigeration systems that are energy efficient.
The issue of benchmarking refrigeration system performance is being investigated by the Centre in collaboration with the Institute of Refrigeration -- this is particularly important as refrigeration and air conditioning is used extensively worldwide and is responsible for over 10% of worldwide CO2 emissions.
The Centre has been awarded funding from the European Union to help develop innovative, environmentally friendly technology which will contribute towards the fight against climate change.
The project, Improving Cold Storage Equipment in Europe (ICE-E), involves nine partners and examines ways to reduce energy use in the cold storage of food, reducing the impact of refrigeration on global warming.
Professor Graeme Maidment
Tel: 020 7815 7626
Email: maidmegg@lsbu.ac.uk
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