New material helps troops keep cool while using less fuel
06 Feb 2013
A new, energy-efficient air chilling system could keep troops on the front lines cool while using about half as much diesel as current systems. The system's decreased fuel consumption could also save lives by reducing attacks on American soldiers who deliver fuel to field operations.
The Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will receive up to $2.8 million over three years to develop the system, the Department of Defence, Navy and DOE's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, also known as ARPA-E, announced Wednesday. In another project led by ADMA Partners of Hudson, Ohio, PNNL will receive up to $500,000 to help develop an advanced membrane dehumidifier that allows air conditioning systems to operate more efficiently. The projects were among five awarded a total of $8.5 million to improve the efficiency of battlefield heating and air conditioning systems by 20 to 50 per cent.
"PNNL is looking forward to adapting its ongoing research into advanced, energy-efficient cooling technologies and apply it toward important military needs," said PNNL Laboratory Fellow and project leader Pete McGrail. "Our team has a strong emotional connection to the success of this project, as it could help prevent American soldiers from being injured or killed while moving fuel in dangerous supply convoys around the battlefield."
PNNL is partnering with Oregon State University and Power Partners, Inc. of Athens, Ga. on the project.
PNNL's system will be a next-generation adsorption chiller that is specially designed to be smaller, lighter, more efficient and operate under the extreme temperatures experienced at bases on the frontlines, also called forward operations.
The chiller will use a novel nanomaterial called a metal organic framework, or MOF.
