Development of a Quadcon Refrigerated Container with First Generation Prototype Solar Adsorption Refrigeration System

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Abstract:

Report for Broad Agency Announcement BAA Congressional Plus-up. The Army recognizes the merits of using renewable energy to power refrigeration systems aboard mobile cold-storage systems used for perishable rations in operational theaters. This report documents efforts to develop a solar-powered adsorption refrigerator for food refrigeration in a QuadCon container. The work was performed between October 2007 and April 2010 under a Broad Agency Announcement project funded as a Congressional Plus-Up by the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center NSRDEC. Plate-style heat-exchanger generators for the device were developed, the equipment was assembled and tested at laboratory scale, and it was shipped to the high insolation region of Tucson, AZ for on-site testing. The plan was to operate the unit for a month to develop ideal operational conditions and then compare performance alongside an electrically-powered QuadCool. Although the system operated safely without any external electric power for 6 weeks at the test location in March and April 2010 and many aspects of the system functioned well, performance did not meet expectations, and final testing was foreshortened. Improvements in the design of the generators, the carbon, and the evaporator are necessary for future developments.

Author(s):
Carruthers, J. D.
Author Organization(s):
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY MATERIALS INC DANBURY CT
Descriptive Note:
Final rept. Oct 2007-Apr 2010
Supplementary Note:
The original document contains color images. The original document contains color images. All DTIC reproductions will be in black and white.
Pagination:
0101

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited.

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Report Number(s):
ATMI-AGT-28, NATICK-TR-11/016
Contract/Grant Number(s):
W911QY-07-C-0073
Project Number(s):
W91A2K70939050
Monitor Series:
TR-11/016, NATICK/NSRDE
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_5.3_Planning; JCA_7.2.1_Mitigate Lethal Effects; JCA_7.2_Mitigate; JCA_7_Protection; JCA_1_Force Support; JCA_5.3.2_Apply Situational Understanding; JCA_1.2_Force Preparation; JCA_6.1.3_Switching and Routing; JCA_1.2.3_Educating; JCA_4.3_Maintain; JCA_6.1.1_Wired Transmission; JCA_8_Building Partnerships; JCA_6_Net Centric; JCA_8.2_Shape; JCA_4.1_Deployment and Distribution; JCA_6.1_Information Transport; JCA_8.2.1_Partner with Governments and Institutions; JCA_1.2.7_Experimentation; JCA_4.6_Engineering; JCA_1.4_Force Support
Communities of Interest:
Energy and Power Technologies
Descriptor(s):
*COLD STORAGE, *REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS, *FIELD EQUIPMENT, *SOLAR ENERGY, OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS, SCALE, POWER SUPPLIES, ELECTRIC POWER, CONTAINERS, LABORATORIES, FOOD, RATIONS, PERISHABLE CARGO, ADSORPTION, ARMY PERSONNEL, THEATER LEVEL OPERATIONS, TEST AND EVALUATION, PORTABLE EQUIPMENT
Field(s)/Group(s):
Air Conditioning, Heating, Lighting and Ventilating
Keyword(s):
PE622786A
Report Date:
2011 Jun 01
Creation Date:
2011 Aug 08