An innovative new structure developed at Aalto University improves the efficiency of plate heat exchangers by up to 20 %. When connected to a heat pump , it has a wide range of applications , from domestic hot water heating to geothermal installations and ventilation in buildings . Buildings are at the heart of climate change mitigation and the rational use of energy . Aalto University ’ s Energy-Efficient and Resilient Buildings research group is working with all its might to enable energy use to rely on clean and flexible solutions that create a good indoor environment . With the increasing use of renewable energy , buildings are both producers and users of energy . Plate heat exchangers are used in a wide range of applications where efficient heat transfer between two |
different fluids is required . They are vital components in applications such as domestic hot water heating , heat recovery from ventilation , geothermal installations , and many industrial processes . The subject of examination was a plate heat exchanger where the waxy paraffin between the metal plates changes its phase with thermal variations . Ferrantelli ’ s collaborators had previously demonstrated that this type of compact PHETES ( plate heat exchanger with thermal energy storage ) structure improves the energy storage capacity of the heat exchanger by as much as 75 %. The results of the study , published in the prestigious Journal of Energy Storage , can be used to design and optimise the operation of the innovative PHETES heat exchanger . |
Blended Products has become a distributor of Delta-T , an advanced surfactant that significantly enhances the efficiency of waterbased heating and cooling systems . Delta-T is a liquid additive , utilising a patented formula developed by chemicals firm SafeSol following 15 years of research . It works by reducing the surface tension of water , which allows water within a heating or cooling system to reach a much greater surface area of heat exchangers , leading to a dramatic increase in heat transfer efficiency . In university tests , a space heated by a copper coil got to a temperature 3.2 times faster with Delta-T . It means Delta-T delivers faster warming and cooling of spaces , with the potential to cut associated |
running costs by up to 27 %. A three-month trial by Bradford Council found that using Delta-T would reduce the annual energy costs of its main office , a Victorian building with a 20,000 litre heating system , by 27 %. This reduction in energy usage represented an annual cost saving to the council of GBP 33,600 as well as a 31-tonne reduction in CO2 output . Delta-T is a system additive suitable for residential and commercial properties , councils , and businesses seeking to enhance their sustainability and reduce costs . Fully compatible with biocides , inhibitors , and glycols , Delta-T allows for seamless integration into existing systems without compromising their protective functions . |