Supplier - April 2015

United Technologies Research Center Awarded
Department of Energy Contract
News
February 11, 2015
WASHINGTON, DC -- United
Technologies Research Center (UTRC),
the research and innovation arm of United
Technologies Corp., has been awarded a
one-year $744,154 contract by the U.S.
Department of Energy's Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
to develop a database of materials for the
manufacturing of high-performance industrial and commercial non-metallic heat exchangers.
“We're excited to be working with the Department of Energy on this next-generation technology
to explore new materials for heat exchangers,” said Abbas Alahyari, UTRC principal scientist
and project leader. “If we can reduce the life-cycle and manufacturing costs utilizing new
materials, then we can save a significant amount of energy.”
According to Alahyari, the review will include material identification and literature evaluation,
as well as empirical and model characterization, resulting in a database of relevant material
properties and characteristics to provide guidance for future heat exchanger development. Key
material features will include thermal conductivity, permeability, life-cycle cost, flammability
and manufacturability.
UTRC will work closely with UTC Building & Industrial Systems, which includes Carrier, the
world's leader in high-technology heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions, for
building applications; and UTC Aerospace Systems for aerospace applications to define
requirements and impact on energy use, both in manufacturing and operations. UTRC will also
work with leading universities in the field to ensure access to the latest developments and to
procure samples for evaluation, indicated Dr. Catherine Thibaud-Erkey, materials and
manufacturing program element lead for the UTC Building & Industrial Systems program office
at UTRC.
“We will explore new composite materials for their suitability to replace existing metal materials
in the production of heat exchangers for the aerospace and heating, ventilating, air-conditioning
and refrigeration (HVAC&R) markets,” Thibaud-Erkey explained. “Applications could range
from aircraft environmental control systems, to chillers and HVAC&R systems.”