SBIR-STTR Award

This project proposes to synthesize phase change materials (PCMs) from bio-based fats and oil and test these PCMs during a Phase I SBIR Program. PCMs are increasingly being used in residential and commercial building construction to reduce energy demands and costs for heating and cooling. Unfortunately, most PCMs are currently derived from petroleum products. The innovative bio-based PCMs to be developed during this SBIR Project represent an environmentally friendly and renewable alternative to conventional PCMs. During Phase I, the project will 1) demonstrate that PCMs with the proper melting point ranges can be produced from beef tallow and soybean oil feedstock, 2) characterize the performance of these products as PCMs, 3) identify viable additives and encapsulation methods to provide desired product life, and 4) identify robust and economically viable products for which processing details would be specified in Phase II investigation. The technology is protected by patent applications-on product synthesis and compositions. The project includes an impressive team including the University of Missouri Department of Chemical Engineering, which has conducted extensive research into bio-based fuels and products.

Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications of Research:
A successful Phase I proposal will demonstrate that room temperature PCMs can be produced from fats and oils at high yields in a robust and relatively inexpensive process, providing the foundation for Phase II, in which a pilot facility will be built, made operational, and produce product. Bio-based PCMs could be produced for less than $0.20 per pound, versus $0.35 per pound for paraffins, currently the least expensive room-temperature PCMs. It is estimated that the market for bio-based PCMs could rise into the billions of dollars per year as the U.S., Canada, and Europe place increasing emphasis on energy efficiency efforts.

A The price of fats and oils are depressed due to an over-supply created by recent increases in palm oil production. B New approaches are needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to reduce the cost of air conditioning for buildings. A This project will demonstrate the conversion of fats and oils into phase change materials typically sold at prices over $0.50 per pound. This is more than double the going rate for beef, lard, and soybean oil. B These phase change materials will be used to reduce air conditioning costs by methods referred to as "peak load shifting" of electricity consumption. This will result in saving consumers money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. OBJECTIVES: The following are specific objectives of the Phase II effort to pave the way to commercialization: 1. For those fat/oil derivatives identified as commercially viable and useful PCM chemicals, these chemicals need to be made available to product researchers for use in consumer products. We can fine-tune performance to meet application needs. Precise product specifications need to be set in our labs, and in some instances the PCM chemicals need to be demonstrated in a new generation of low-cost PCM devices in our labs. The first products will be made a few months after the start of the Phase II investigation, and we will likely continue to identify new products through the duration of the Phase II investigation. 2. Pilot scale production scale up must be performed on select PCM chemicals. An emphasis will be placed on those PCM chemicals that are easiest to produce. 3. Additional PCM products must be identified, researched, and developed. These additional products will provide needed abilities at different temperatures and potentially provide less expensive alternatives. Increased use of low-cost beef tallow and lard feed stocks is a priority. 4. Build collaborations with whom we can achieve allow rapid commercialization in both the U.S. and China. APPROACH: The objectives will be achieved through the tasks summarized as follows: 1. Other phase change material (PCM) from Fats and Oils will be identified. Due to the vast number of potential PCM chemicals that can be prepared from fats and oils, the task of identifying new or improved derivatives will only be able to pursue a few new candidate products. Priorities will be placed on: 1) beef tallow and lard derivatives since tallow and lard are less expensive than vegetable oils and 2) easily attained derivatives of hydrogenated soybean oil. Derivatives of hydrogenated beef tallow and soybean oil will be synthesized and tested. 2. Mixtures will be used to create phase change materials for additional temperatures. Expand Temperatures of Application Through Use of Mixtures: A powerful degree of freedom in designing phase change materials is the use of mixtures. For example, a phase I investigation has identified up to 6 derivatives that have desirable latent heat characteristics. If a small amount, e.g. 10 wt%, additives was able to decrease the peak temperatures of each of these components by 4 C, these 6 PCM chemicals would become 12 PCM chemicals. The ability to use additives to change latent heat characteristics must be understood. 3. Aging and cycling studies will be performed on new products. Accelerated thermal cyclic studies will be performed on all identified PCM chemicals. Samples will be placed in glass and encapsulated in a variety of plastics. We expect to perform at least 3000 aging cycles between 10 and 75 C on each product. 4. A web site will be set up offering PCM chemicals for research and sale. We have purchased the URL site, renewablealternatives.com. A web page will be prepared describing out company and the commercialization of PCM chemicals based on fats and oils. In addition, research quantities of PCM chemicals will be made available to other research groups who desire to develop new consumer devices and products that incorporate PCM chemicals. Eventually, our PCM chemicals will be made available for purchase via this site. 5. Product specifications and production methods will be defined. In taking the step from producing a viable PCM chemical from a triglyceride to making triglcyeride-based PCM chemicals available for sale, specifications for both the feedstocks and PCM chemicals must be set. Specifications will be initially set for soybean oil derived PCM chemicals. 6. The PCM chemicals will be demonstrated in a proprietary encapsulation system including cycleing studies. 7. The new encapsulation system will be demonstrated in consumer devices. 8. A 5-gallon pilot reactor will be built, demonstrated, and operated for producing phase change materials. 9. Commercialization contacts will be established. Sales of PCM products to Chinese markets will specifically be pursued