University of Southern Denmark

<p><strong>Overview:</strong></p>
<p>The University of Southern Denmark welcomed the first students onto the campus in Odense in September 1966, and things have been developing by leaps and bounds ever since. SDU now have five faculties with more than 32,000 students, almost 20% of whom are from abroad, and more than 4,000 employees distributed across our main campus in Odense and regional campuses in Slagelse, Kolding, Esbjerg and Sønderborg.</p>
<p>SDU conducts world-class research and are one of the top fifty young universities in the world. Every day more than 2,000 researchers and 32,000 students build on the university’s reputation as a centre of academic excellence.</p>
<p><strong>Research:</strong></p>
<p>The University of Southern Denmark consists of five faculties:</p>
<ul>
<li>Faculty of Engineering</li>
<li>Faculty of Health Sciences</li>
<li>Faculty of Science</li>
<li>Faculty of Business and Social Sciences</li>
<li>Faculty of Humanities</li>
</ul>
<p>Every faculty consists of several departments, where the departments have a noticeable academic and economic independence and responsibility. Together departments and centres cover a wide range of research fields and educational opportunities.</p>
<p><strong>Industry Partnerships:</strong></p>
<p>SDU works purposefully to create dialogue between the university’s researchers and the surrounding society. To promote and make communication and knowledge exchange visible, faculties cooperate with various external parties. These activities are organised in centres. The centres serve to promote special purposes in research, education or knowledge exchange.</p>
<p>SDU RIO (SDU Research &amp; Innovation Organisation) supports collaboration between research, education, the business community and the public sector.</p>


<h1 id="background">Background</h1>
<p> According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the power used for running air conditioners and fans accounts for nearly 20% of the total electricity used in buildings or 10% of all global electricity consumption. In the years to come, the use of air conditioners is expected to undergo significant growth. An IEA report predicts a 300% increase in energy consumption related to air-conditioning by the year 2050. This will be driven by an income rise in the world’s hotter regions as well as global warming </p>
<h1 id="technology-overview">Technology Overview</h1>
<p>The climate module is charged during night using cold outside air to solidify the Phase Change Material (PCM). <img src="https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/assets.in-part.com/technologies/figures/rFv78iYtRDm1ST8Ax1cx_sdu1.png" alt="Figure 1. First protype of climate module with Phase Change Material (PCM)" />. <img src="https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/assets.in-part.com/technologies/figures/lbU3MTW9QXCc87O5k654_sdu2.png" alt="Figure 2. Climate Module with PCM filled containers." /> The module can then provide cool air during the hot day. A unique patent pending design offers a rare combination of low pressure drop and efficient heat exchange during the entire phase change cycle. <img src="https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/assets.in-part.com/technologies/figures/uaQRouBTLGJdQBbznW2B_sdu5.png" alt="Figure 3. Integration with existing HVAC system." /> The module:</p>
<ul>
<li>is based on an installation of 4x125 kg PCM for an office building of 200 m2. The PCM undergoes 250 full cycles per year. </li>
<li>has installation costs of such a system will be around EUR 15.000. The costs of one kWhr is assumed to 0,8 EUR</li>
<li>has a system will replace/support a conventional A/C system with a COP of 2,5.</li>
<li>has a PCM system will reduce the electricity costs with around EUR 2000 per year. Lifetime of the system is high; +25 years </li>
</ul>
<h3 id="-stage-of-development-"><strong>Stage of Development</strong></h3>
<p>A fully functional prototype has been built and tested. <img src="https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/assets.in-part.com/technologies/figures/XeWqtDIbSq2miftk6XhI_sdu4.png" alt="Figure 4. Rendering of climate module." /> Results were very promising. Next step will be to optimize PCM container design and reduce manufacturing costs. A larger 2nd prototype will be developed with focus on autonomous operation with help from various sensors and internal computer. </p>
<ul>
<li>Prototype is tested and verified. </li>
<li>Design principles offer easily scalable manufacturing</li>
<li>Patent pending designs</li>
</ul>
<h1 id="benefits">Benefits</h1>
<ul>
<li>Highly profitable technology</li>
<li>Reduce electricity costs</li>
<li>Providing cooling when use of conventional A/C is restricted</li>
</ul>
<h1 id="applications">Applications</h1>
<ul>
<li>A/C systems</li>
</ul>
<h1 id="opportunity">Opportunity</h1>
<p>SDU invites investors and co-founders to start up business and offers the following collaboration and partnerships:</p>
<ul>
<li>Software development</li>
<li>Sales &amp; marketing (within HVAC) </li>
<li>Test &amp; verification (climate chamber tests)</li>
</ul>
