Stirling cycle heat pumps for industrial heat recovery
Summary
SCH Number
2020060064
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Stirling cycle heat pumps for industrial heat recovery
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/3/2020
Document Description
Under grant Agreement EPC-19-022, the California Energy Commission will provide a grant of $656,630 to The Regents of the University of California, on behalf of the Merced Campus. Under the grant, UC Merced would develop an improved, high-temperature heat pump for industrial heat recovery applications, based on the Stirling cycle. The Stirling cycle is an efficient thermodynamic alternative to conventional vapor-compression technology. This project would also use fluid to act as pistons.
Beneficiaries of more efficient heat pumps will include industrial electricity customers, who will save energy and money. Beneficiaries of improved energy efficiency will also include California’s investor-owned electric utilities and their customers (i.e., ratepayers), along with the public at large and the environment.
Contact Information
Name
Ilia Krupenich
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Agency Name
The Regents of the University of California on behalf of the Merced Campus
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Location
Cities
Merced
Counties
Merced
Zip
95343
Other Location Info
5200 N. Lake Road (Campus address). Initial work will be at Sustainability Research and Engineering Building labs 354 and 324 and on the Science and Engineering Building 2 roof, but locations may change during the project.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., title 14, § 15306
Reasons for Exemption
The grant project activities will occur in existing laboratories on the University of California, Merced Campus. Researchers will construct prototype heat pump(s) and gather data. The technology does not involve combustion. The heat transfer fluid does not have known toxic effects. It appears that the only known hazard of the heat transfer fluid is potential flammability. This risk is minor, and the laboratories are properly fitted with fire safety equipment.
None of the grant project activities would result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource. Therefore, this project is exempt under California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15306, Information Collection.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. You may also contact the OPR via email at state.clearinghouse@opr.ca.gov or via phone at (916) 445-0613. For more information, please visit OPR’s Accessibility Site.