Non-Metallic Heat Exchangers - Ceramic Polymer Hybrid Microchannel

Buildings use 72% of the nation’s electricity and 55% of natural gas representing 40% of CO2 emissions. The DOE believes Non-metallic heat exchangers are an ideal solution to advance the public purpose of reducing this energy and carbon footprint due to their light weight, manufacturing potential, corrosion resistance, and low cost. Polymer heat exchangers have not taken off as a practical solution due to their relatively low thermal conductivity. An economical, Ceramic Polymer heat exchanger is employed as a high efficiency heat pump which may simultaneously 1) cool, 2) dehumidify, 3) heat, 4) humidity, 5) recover energy, 6) deactivate viruses, 7) deactivate bacteria, 8) scrub carbon dioxide, 9) scrub other gaseous pollutants, and 10) particle filter an airstream. This transformational technology in conditioning air in both summer and winter months solves the basic corrosion and maintenance problems that have plagued liquid desiccant systems for over 80 years. A 5 ton bench top heat pump will be built and tested; capable of processing 450 scfm at 90F/90%RH to 55F/50%RH with a cooling COPPrimary of 1.24 (COPPrimary of 2.48 achievable accounting for Energy Recovery and CO2 Scrubbing capabilities). A ceramic polymer heat exchanger shall be incorporated into this non-metallic system capable of remote energy recovery, frost-proof heating below 0F, and scrubbing of indoor air pollutants. Phase I will involve the design of the ceramic polymer heat exchanger and integration with standard efficiency heat pump for greater than 500% heat transfer rates. Energy efficiency measures in the buildings sector provide a tremendous opportunity to reduce the energy demand and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Commercialized success of the proposed Non-metallic heat pump is applicable to all climate types, both fresh air and re-circulating systems, retrofitting existing structures, as well as new system markets. The use of halide salts along the contact surfaces of the Ceramic Polymer heat exchanger provides the first frost-proof heat pump capable of continuous operation well below 0F. This would allow all building types in all United States climate zones to shift away from fossil fuels and solely employ renewable electricity in their conditioning requirements.