Appliance Design - March 2008 - (Page 20)

TERRAPIN G NANO-HARDCOATED PLASTIC FILMS POWER Strong & Flexible Terrapin G from Tekra beats conventional hardcoats hands-down for resistance to scratching, abrasion and chemicals. But it’s more than just hard. It’s also flexible and optically clear, making it ideal for applications such as touch panels, nameplates and signature verification devices – to name a few possibilities. Available on either polycarbonate or polyester substrates in a variety of thicknesses. A schematic of the Honda CHP unit and how it works with Climate Energy’s technology. Contact us now to discuss your application! 800-448-3572 www.tekra.com © 2008 Tekra Corporation en technology and available components. Energetix uses off-the-shelf air-conditioning and refrigeration parts, says Ian Stares, commercial director for Energetix Genlec. The company’s Genlec Micro CHP technology is based on the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology, which use scroll expanders, compressors, heat exchangers and other components that are already on the market. “The ORC operates like a boiler, can be installed like a boiler, and it can be seen as a boiler, but one that generates electricity,” he says. “There are no complicated manufacturing techniques needed, it is a straight forward assembly job.” A traditional Rankine cycle is a closedcircuit steam cycle, basically a steam engine. Typically, ORC units can operate on a wide range of refrigerants such as fluorocarbons, hydrocarbons, ammonia, and others. While declining to be specific about the refrigerant used in the Genlec, the company confirms it is one that has a significantly lower boiling point than water and, because of this, requires only a small amount of heat from the boiler to drive the Genlec unit and produce electricity and heat. ORC is like a refrigeration cycle, but operating in reverse. The organic refrigerant goes around a circuit, and that fluid is heated and turned into vapor. That vapor goes through a scroll expander, which generates the electric- ity. The vapor then goes back through a condenser, and the heat is rejected into a space heating system and/or a water tank. The heat source in the unit is natural gas burner. The micro CHP appliance is targeted to weigh approximately 70-kg (154 lbs.), runs off of natural gas and is designed for wall mounting. The company has test units in the field and is projecting energy cost savings to the U.K. homeowner of around £150 a year. The company plans to contract with heating appliance manufacturers to produce and market the units. Stares say he expects the product to hit the European market late this year or early in 2009. When fully developed, the Energetix product will join the other micro CHP products knocking on the consumer’s door. It’s still too early to predict whether one of the micro CHP technologies will race ahead as the preferred method, or whether they will all coexist, each finding a niche for itself. One thing is clear, however. Many big players are working hard to ensure that micro CHP equipment will become more commonplace in the years ahead. And, if other countries should follow Japan’s lead, providing incentives to stimulate demand, the rollout of micro CHP systems would only be accelerated. It’s entirely possible that, in the home of the future, such units may be as commonly found as refrigerators and clothes washers. < For more Information Enter 105 20 applianceDESIGN AD03084Tek.indd 1 March 2008 2/1/08 10:07:22 AM www.applianceDESIGN.com http://www.tekra.com http://www.appliancedesign.com

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Appliance Design - March 2008 Contents Editorial Shipments/Forecasts News Watch A New Appliance is Set to Break into Homes Soon - the Micro CHP Unit, which Generate both Heat and Power. Thermally Enhanced Varistors Help Protect Low-Power Systems Against Damage Caused by Over-Current, Over-Temperature and Over-Voltage Faults. Hybrid Controller Reduces Standby Power Consumption and Improves Active-Mode Efficiency. Battery-Management ICs Solve Design Challenges for Cordless Appliances Using High-Voltage, Lithium-Ion Battery Technology. A Semiconductor Solution Protects the Relay in a Temperature Controller for a Cooking Appliance. New Polyurethane Foam Insulation System Optimizes both Insulation Performance and Productivity. Innovations in Decorative, Pre-Finished Metals Expand Range of Design Options for Appliance Designers. Design Marts Association Report: AHAM Advertiser's Index

Appliance Design - March 2008

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