Center for Energy Excellence: “Building New Coalitions for Economic Growth”

1Kettering UniversityKettering University

Center for Energy Excellence:

“Building New Coalitions for

Economic Growth”

Green Today Jobs Tomorrow May 11, 2009


• Dr. Michael Harris• Dr. Joel Berry• Dr. Homayun Navaz• Neil Sheridan• Questions & Answers

Agenda


K. Joel Berry, Ph.D Mechanical Engineering Department Head

Plant the Seeds of a Flint Area

Alternative Energy

Economy

Energy Excellence Case Study 1


Problem

• Shrinking automotive market and declining jobs in Flint Area

• High-paying jobs moving elsewhere

• Flint Area economic base eroding


Solution

• Kettering to assist in an economic transformation of Flint and Mid-Michigan by development of a Sustainable Energy Economy.

• Activities creating high-paying alternative energy jobs for the Flint employment base.


Approach

• Approached the Federal Economic Development Administration for assistance

• Work strategically with the MEDC• Collaborate with the Mid-Michigan

Innovation Team


Approach

1. Developed a world-class Fuel Cells research and education center that creates new marketable products and jobs


Approach


Approach

2. Develop an sustainableenergy education center for:

STEM Teachers – From secondary to community college

Students (Secondary)


Approach

3. Develop a business incubator for FC and other advanced technology companies


Approach

4. Expanded Kettering’s Research and Development Staff

5. Building a state-of-the-art wet lab complex for start-up and

growth companies


Technology Innovation

• Developed working technology that can be mass-manufactured and widely used

• Manufacturing involves many high-paying jobs

• Allow Fuel Cells to be sold for solving many market needs

• Flexible and user-friendly power management controls


Technology Education

• Provided research and learning opportunities for Kettering faculty and students

• Every Mechanical Engineering student since 2005 has been exposed to Fuel Cells and Hybrid technologies

• Pre-College Program• STEM Teachers


• 50 Community College and Secondary Teachers

have participated in SEE programs with spin-off programs around the state

• Technology spun-out into a new company– GEI “Global Energy Innovations”– 6 Full and part-time employees– Major corporate partner– Has sent robust prototypes to commercial

development partners for evaluation

Results


Kettering TechWorks program hosting two alternative energy start-ups

Results


Next Steps• Next Steps in Job Creation/Growth

– Find investment capital– Scale it up– Begin small-scale manufacturing– Plan for manufacturing and developing local

suppliers and workers• Next, make a national contribution

– Develop a national educational model to disseminate knowledge

– “Coalition of Great Lakes Fuel Cell Education…”


Dr. Homayun Navaz

Energy Excellence Case Study 2

Reducing Warm Air

Infiltration: Energy

Savings in Refrigeration

Systems


The Need

Reduce the infiltration of warm air into the display caseReduce power consumption, load on electricity infrastructure, and greenhouse gas generationGet ready for stricter future energy standards

EvaporatorCoil

EvaporatorFan

DischargeAir

ReturnAir

Product Display Shelf





Adjacent Space(warm and moist)

EntrainedAir

Mixing

Spilled Air

RefrigeratedSpace

InfiltratedAir

Discharge AirGrille (DAG)

Return AirGrille (RAG)

BackPanel

BackPanel

BackPanel

BackPanel

BackPanel

WDAG


The Need

Specs in a typical supermarket330 feet line-up500,000 BTU/hr or 41 tons of refrigeration loadInfiltration of warm air is responsible for 81% of the refrigeration load

Source: CEC PIER Final Project Report 500-05-012, September 2008CEC: California Energy CommissionPIER: Public Interest Energy Research


Solution

• Successfully conducted advanced R & D on warm air infiltration in refrigerated/ air-conditioned space

• Effectively modeled the impact of design changes on configuration options• Easily can now measure the actual performance specifications under real-world

operating conditions• Successfully reduced the infiltration by 12%


ApproachA hybrid experimental/numerical approach was used to

develop:– A software that calculates the infiltration rate of

warm air into the refrigerated space (based on artificial intelligence)

– Equipment to measure actual infiltration in either labs or in the field (supermarkets)• In Fact: Can be used to measure warm air

infiltrating this conference hall


Innovation Strategy• Discovery of the science• Gauge commercial and environmental benefits• Create the IT and hardware technology• Develop industry and peer acknowledgement of its validity • Find Partners

– Southern California Edison Company– University of Washington (Seattle)– University of Texas (Dallas)– Measurement Sciences, Inc.– Display Case Manufacturers

• Hill Phoenix, Inc• Hussmann, Inc.• Southern Store Fixtures, Inc.


Partners & Investments• Partners:

– Southern California Edison Company– University of Washington (Seattle)– University of Texas (Dallas)– Measurement Sciences, Inc.– Display Case Manufacturers

• Hill Phoenix, Inc• Hussmann, Inc.• Southern Store Fixtures, Inc.

• Investments– $100K from the Department of Energy– $250 K from California Energy Commission– $150K from Southern California Edison


Software Artificial Neural Network/Training Screen


Software Artificial Neural Network/Recall Screen


Software Artificial Neural Network/Display Screen


EquipmentKettering University

Open Display Case

Gas Analyzer

DPIV Laser Equipment


Technology ImpactsIn terms of design:

Facilitates faster re-design of refrigerated cases already in useFacilitate a tool for better standardization of such systems

In terms of energy consumption/savings now:

In California (based on 6900 supermarkets)*

Reducing annual energy usage by 110,807,100 kWh or 111 GWh that at ~ $ 0.13/kWh = $ 14.4 M

Reducing green house gas emission by 48,783 tons/yearNationwide

Approximately $ 150 M savings/year and 0.5 Million tons/year less green house gas emission

* Source: CEC PIER Final Project Report 500-05-012, September 2008


Next Steps• Obtain research funding

– Spin-off a new company “Coolificient, Inc.”– Co-owned with graduate assistants and students– Encourage manufacturers to join a long-term partnership

• Create job opportunities– Goal is to provide entrepreneurial experience while creating

energy efficiency– Market our new product and services– Plan the development of future products and services dealing

with the infiltration problem– Drive improved products and energy savings


Neil SheridanTechWorks Director

Q & A

“Building New Coalitions for

Economic Growth:

The COEE at Kettering”

Center for Energy Excellence: “Building New Coalitions for Economic Growth”

Documents

Transcript of Center for Energy Excellence: “Building New Coalitions for Economic Growth”