Development of osmotic heat engine using temperature phase transition materials as working fluid

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K14851
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Properties in chemical engineering process/Transfer operation/Unit operation
• Research Institution: Nihon University (2018); Kobe University (2017)
• Principal Investigator: TAKAHASHI Tomoki 日本大学, 生産工学部, 助教 (80535518)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: オスモティックヒートエンジン / 浸透圧発電 / 温度相転移材料 / 正浸透膜 / 駆動溶液

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In an industrial field and power plant, most of the low-grade heat are unused, and their thermal energy is huge quantities. Therefore power generation with low-grade heat is necessary. We focused on the osmotic heat engine (OHE). OHE is the pressure retard osmosis which generates power from osmotic pressure difference between solutions combined with thermal regeneration. In this study, LCST-type phase transition materials which is separated into dense phase and dilute phase by heating were used. We established the method to predict power generating performance of OHE and investigated it. We also simulated the power generating performances by changing the various parameters such as membrane characteristics. Consequently, the simulation provided a better knowledge for not only membrane characteristics, but also characteristics of LCST-type materials. Moreover, power generating performance of OHE and binary power generation in case of using same heat source were compared.

Free Research Field

化学工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

日本国内の発電所や工場における排熱の合計は年間1兆kWhとも言われており、これは日本の年間総発電量とほぼ同じである。さらに、環太平洋火山帯に位置する日本の地熱発電ポテンシャルは53～120℃の温度域だけでも年間7兆kWh以上の膨大な地熱資源量を誇る。これらの膨大な未利用熱エネルギーから高効率で電力を生み出すことが出来れば、日本のエネルギー安定供給の実現に貢献するものと考えられる。加えて、本研究により開発される高性能なDSは、正浸透膜法を用いた省エネ型水処理技術への応用展開も可能であり、市場規模110兆円(2025年)と言われている水処理産業へ及ぼす経済的波及効果も期待される。