Development concept
Thermo Volt / Closed-loop thermal conversion
Recover the heat.
Generate electricity.
A traditional chiller consumes electricity to move heat, then rejects that heat outdoors. Thermo Volt is being developed to capture energy from that normally rejected heat and route it through a closed refrigerant power cycle. The expanding refrigerant drives a permanent-magnet generator before being condensed and returned to the loop—producing electricity that offsets part of the chiller plant’s electrical demand.
The operating concept
- 01
Pressurize
The liquid working fluid is pumped to operating pressure for the next cycle.
- 02
Capture rejected heat
HX1 transfers heat that would normally be rejected by the chiller into the power loop.
- 03
Generate electricity
The vapor expands through the expander, driving a permanent-magnet generator.
- 04
Condense & return
HX2 fully condenses the working fluid so it can return to the pump and repeat the cycle.
Closed refrigerant loopHX2 → liquid return → pump → HX1
Energy sourceNormally rejected chiller heat
Electrical outputExpander + PMG + inverter
System benefitLower net chiller-plant demand
Concept specifications
- Architecture
- Closed-loop refrigerant power cycle
- Primary refrigerant
- R-1234yf
- Secondary refrigerant
- R-1224yd(Z)
- Concept models
- HX-10 / HX-30
- HX-10 auxiliary draw
- Approx. 4.1 kW
- HX-30 auxiliary draw
- 12.2 kW
- HX-30 generation target
- 30 kW
- Recovered energy source
- Normally rejected chiller heat
- Intended result
- Electricity generation + reduced net demand
- Generation equipment
- Expander, PMG and grid inverter
- Control concept
- Local fast loops + supervisory web controls
- Protection concept
- Pressure, temperature, isolation and fail-safe interlocks
Thermo Volt is a development-stage concept. Refrigerant circuits, ratings, electrical interface, approvals, net power reduction, and overall performance must be confirmed through prototype testing and project-specific validation. Generation targets are not guaranteed commercial ratings.