Oral Presentation 7-06

 

Fat and Oil Derived Phase Change Materials with HVAC Applications

 

Galen J. Suppes

 

The University of Missouri

Department of Chemical Engineering

W2028 Engineering Bldg. East

Columbia,MO 65211

 

Telephone: (573) 884-0562; Fax: (573) 884-4940; E-mail: suppesg@missouri.edu

 

Phase change materials (PCM) have the capacity to reduce heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) costs by a number of different mechanisms, including:  eliminating air conditioning costs by storing nighttime coolness for use during the day, eliminating heating costs by storing daytime warmth for use during the night, and load-shifting of electricity through thermal storage.  Well-designed strategies and utilization of phase change materials could easily reduce HVAC-related carbon dioxide emissions by more than 25% from current levels.  It is anticipated that these reductions in emissions can be achieved while saving consumers money and creating new markets for agricultural commodities.

 

This presentation is on the latent heat properties of fat and oil derivatives with an emphasis on HVAC applications.  The latent heat properties of mixtures are described from a fundamental perspective.  After identifying target derivatives and compositions, strategies are presented through which these compositions can be achieved complete with experimental verification of these synthesis routes.  Finally, known and new devices for using these PCM chemicals are described.  Preliminary economic analyses indicate that fat and oil based PCM chemicals can be produced for less than half the price of paraffin PCM products currently produced from crude oil.  These new markets could provide a much-needed influx of billions of dollars into animal fat and vegetable oil markets.

 

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