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Details |
| Project Title | Biomimicry applications to heat exchange systems | |
|---|---|---|
| Track Code | P2710 | |
| Website | people.stfx.ca/edemont/biomechanics-lab.html | |
| Short Description | The Biomechanics Lab at St. Francis Xavier University is presently developing innovative new concepts related to biomimicry applications to manufactured heat exchange processes and systems. We seek industry partners and collaborators to join forces with to jointly seek funding and commercialization opportunities. | |
| Abstract | None | |
| Tags | applied research, collaboration, energy efficieny, environmental engineering, mechanical engineering | |
| Posted Date | Jan 28, 2009 6:46 AM | |
Potential Applications |
Potential Applications:
Air conditioners, automobile radiators, desalination processes, heat pumps, heat exchangers, radiators, refrigeration systems
State of Development |
Background |
Biomimicry is a relatively new area of science which utilizes natural solutions to improve performance of industrial processes. This project uses natural fluid distribution patterns to improve the performance of manmade fluid distribution systems, which are found in a large variety of industrial devices, such as air conditioners or automobile radiators. Increased energy efficiencies will be realized through a more effective industrial design that inherently minimizes energy use.
Distribution systems in nature follow a simple branching pattern which is optimized to minimize the cost of construction and maintenance of the system. Although this optimization occurs in all natural systems, the application to industry is currently exploited only in the design of microfluidic systems. Fluid distribution systems in many machines consist of constant diameter pipes, for example, the cooling coils in air conditioners or automobile radiators. The purpose of this project is to use the design concepts provided by natural systems to radically redesign the industry-standard architecture of fluid distribution pipes to reduce the overall cost of operating the machines.