Challenge
Argyle Earth is trying to solve one of the biggest challenges that industry faces—thermal losses.
It is estimated that between 20% and 50% of industry energy input is lost as waste heat. Recovering some of this waste heat can improve energy efficiency and lower the cost of production for companies.
“Working with the team at Sandia has been a game changer for Argyle. The team‘s knowledge is unparalleled and they consistently proved to be capable and dependable partners. We look forward to future collaborations!”
Kristina Mcmillan
Co-founder & CEO
Argyle Earth
Collaboration
Argyle has patented a new thermodynamic process technology called the McMillan cycle system that is capable of increasing the efficiency of heat to electricity conversion at lower temperatures. The company is collaborating with Sandia National Laboratories to increase the technology readiness level and assess different applications for a system using the thermodynamic process. Argyle chose to collaborate with Sandia due to the Labs’ experimental capabilities and its scientists’ expertise in thermal dynamics and thermal storage.
Solution
Sandia Researchers Kenny Armijo, Javier Martell, and Evan Sproul created a thermodynamic model for Argyle’s technology and ran simulations. After completing a techno-economic analysis, which included assessing different use cases, Sandia scientists identified the large food and beverage and paper industries as good initial markets to enter. Both industries use low-temperature heat in their processes and could benefit from Argyle’s new system to decrease waste.
Impact
The compact Argyle system combines the company’s thermodynamic process with thermal energy storage to absorb as much waste heat as possible and produce electricity. This way the recovered energy can be deployed at the factory as needed or sold to a utility company and sent to the grid.
Compared to other technologies which might convert 13% of waste heat to electricity, the Argyle system converts about 35%. This level of efficiency can help more companies take advantage of converting their waste heat to a resource they can use or sell, ultimately lowering costs for consumers. The results of this partnership are linked to Sandia’s national energy security and economic security missions.
The next step will be to develop a prototype system to be deployed as a pilot in an industrial setting. The Argyle system can then be scaled to support more companies in the paper and food and beverage sectors, with other industries to follow.