Posts Tagged ‘heating’

 

New Innovative Research Grant by ASHRAE

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating 
and Air-Conditioning Engineers has announced the ‘ASHRAE Innovative Research Grant’ that will complement research steered by the society’s technical committees. By awarding researchers with up to $125,000 (€88,100), ASHRAE seeks to encourage out-of-the-box research in HVAC&R engineering. Pre-proposals are due 1 September 2011.

The award will enable researchers to evaluate the feasibility of a new concept, process, methodology, technology, etc, with little guidance from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating 
and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Research with promising findings could lead to additional larger scale projects.

The grant

The award consists of a base grant of $50,000 (€35,240) per year for two years, with an additional $25,000 (€17,620)available in the third year if matched by a contribution from industry. Thus, the maximum award from ASHRAE would be $125,000 (€88,100), while the maximum available to the recipient would be $150,000 (€105,720).

Selection process & criteria

The intention is to fund one award each year. A two-phase process will be used to select individuals to be granted the award. Pre-proposals will be invited once a year when funding is adequate to support the award. Of these, a maximum of five each year will be invited to submit full proposals.

The criteria for selecting projects for funding include:

  • Novelty of the research
  • Importance of the problem
  • Potential for success
  • Student involvement
  • Cost sharing

How to apply

This year, pre-proposals consisting of a two-page whitepaper and a two-page curriculum vitae for the principal researcher, are invited until 1 September 2011. Interested individuals can submit pre-proposals to ASHRAE’s Manager of Research & Technical Services, 1791 Tullie Circle, NE, Atlanta, GA 30329. Full proposals are due 15 March 2012.

About ASHRAE and its Research Strategic Plan 2010-2015

Founded in 1894, ASHRAE is an international organisation of 51,000 persons, with a mission of advancing heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education.

The ASHRAE Research Strategic Plan for 2010-2015 consists of 11 strategic goals, addressing technical challenges that limit the ability to maximise building performance, energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality while minimising the impact on the environment. Goal 8 of the plan is to facilitate the use of natural and low global warming potential (GWP) synthetic refrigerants and seek methods to reduce their charge.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Latest News | No Comments »

UPDATED: Get involved in AHRI’s research programme to assess low GWP refrigerants

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) has announced an industry-wide cooperative research programme to identify and evaluate promising low-GWP refrigerants, including natural refrigerants, for major product categories. UPDATE: Manufacturers and laboratories are now invited to apply for testing identified refrigerant candidates, including propane and isobutane.

Titled ‘Low GWP Alternative Refrigerants Evaluation Program’ (low GWP AREP), the initiative announced by AHRI on 23 March 2011 aims at accelerating the industry’s response to environmental challenges, by facilitating the selection of the most promising refrigerants and identify technical challenges and research needs.

Refrigerants encompassing a low Global Warming Potential (GWP), including natural refrigerants such as hydrocarbons, will be considered for application in the following major product categories:

  • Air conditioners
  • Heat pumps
  • Dehumidifiers
  • Chillers
  • Water heaters
  • Ice makers
  • Refrigeration equipment


Call for testing identified refrigerants including hydrocarbons

Since 23 August 2011, AHRI is soliciting the participation of US-based as well as foreign manufacturers and research laboratories in testing a group of identified synthetic and natural refrigerant candidates, including hydrocarbons:

  • Isobutane (R600a)
  • Propane (R290)
  • A 40% R290 and 60% R600a hydrocarbon blend

The programme also invites submissions of existing test results and test proposals aimed at filling known gaps on comparisons to other alternative refrigerants for the following natural refrigerants:

  • Hydrocarbon R1270 (propylene or propene) R1270,
  • R717 (ammonia), and
  • R744 (carbon dioxide)

On the synthetic refrigerant side, candidates include newly developed low GWP refrigerants as well as pure HFC32 and its various blends with other HFCs. There are also some additional candidates that are proprietary refrigerants whose compositions remain confidential until the completion of the programme.

Testing at laboratories of participating companies

Participating companies will include both US and international manufacturers. Testing will be carried out at company laboratories and will encompass:

  • Compressor calorimeter testing
  • System drop-in testing
  • Soft-optimised system testing

Moreover, the programme will include heat transfer coefficient measurements performed by universities and private research laboratories.

Companies interested in testing will be required to perform all tests at their laboratories with at least one candidate refrigerant compared to its baseline, using own resources, at their own expense. Testing companies will have early access to testing results under the programme.

Submit a test plan by end of September 2011

Companies interested in testing the refrigerant candidates may request copies of the Participants’ Handbook and Test Plan Submission Template by contacting AHRI Manager of Research Xudong Wang (xwang@ahrinet.org).
Testing plans should be submitted to AHRI by 30 September 2011.

The testing results and final reports will ultimately be made available to the public once approved by AHRI.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Latest News | No Comments »

Large organisations subject to mandatory carbon reporting in France

Monday, November 14th, 2011

On 13 July 2011 greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reporting was made mandatory for large organisations, as part of the French Grenelle Large organisations subject to mandatory carbon reporting in France Environment project (Grenelle de l’environnement). In addition, organisations and local authorities must create climate and energy plans detailing emission reduction strategies.

Originally outlined in the 2009 Grenelle 2 bill, the GHG reporting law requires companies with more than 500 employees to disclose their carbon footprint and outline emission reduction measures by 31 December 2012. The new piece of legislation will support France’s long-term goal of achieving a 75% reduction in GHG emissions below 1990 levels by 2050.

In the coming months a national coordination centre will be set-up to develop reporting methodologies, calculation tools and outline how the information in the carbon reports is to be presented.
Details of the carbon reporting decree
n°2011-829
The legislation stipulates the need for annual carbon reports and these must be accompanied by a 3-year action plan outlining emissions reduction strategies. In addition to the stipulation regarding organisations with over 500 employees, overseas organisations with over 250 employees will also have to give details of their carbon footprint.
In their accounting organisations must take into account both the emissions directly linked to their activities and the indirect emissions linked to electricity use, heating and cooling.
Whilst up until now the development of climate-energy plans (PCT) was voluntary, the new law mandates that the French State and all local authorities with over 50,000 inhabitants must now introduce such a plans. These plans are to be submitted to the appropriate regional authority for approval and once accepted made public.
Those organisations and local authorities that have already reported their carbon emissions in the previous 3 years need not repeat the exercise, and can submit their previous footprint reports instead.
French companies rank poorly in ET Carbon Rankings Report
Although many groups have welcomed mandatory reporting there are nevertheless critics who believe the carbon reporting should have had a broader scope, and does not live-up to the overall ambitions of the Grenelle project. Currently the law requires the provision of figures for Scope 1 and part of Scope 2, but does not stipulate the integration of Scope 3 figures.
A 2011 report by the Environmental Investment Organisation (EIO) indicates that French and Swiss companies rank amongst the worst when it comes to reporting their GHG emissions. According to the report only 62% of French companies provide complete GHG emissions data, compared with 92% of Spanish companies, 83 % of German companies and 78% of British companies. Among those French companies that do not disclose any data are Sodexo, Cap Gemini SA and Bouygues.
Background
The Grenelle Environment Project is a consultative project between the government, local authorities, trade unions, business and voluntary sectors to develop a roadmap for sustainable development and ecosystem protection in France. Launched on 6 July 2007 the aim of the Grenelle is to draw up concrete measures to tackle environmental issues.
To improve transparency and provide adaptability for different types of organisation and different types of climate, direct and indirect emissions for carbon reporting have been categorised into three scopes: Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3. These scopes can be used to track GHG emissions from heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems.
Refrigeration and air conditioning system refrigerant gas leaks are classified as direct emissions and come under Scope 1. Emissions from the electricity generated to power refrigeration and air conditioning systems are classified as indirect and fall under Scope 2. Emissions from the use of goods or services manufactured or provided by remote vendors are also considered indirect and fall under Scope 3.
The Environmental Investment Organisation is an independent non-profit body whose mission is to improve the environmental ‘output’ of the financial system.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Latest News | No Comments »