Maxwell™ Heat Transfer Fluid

Heat Transfer Fluid

Maxwell™ is an innovative heat transfer nanofluid additive which dramatically improves the energy efficiency of hydronic cooling & heating systems. A drop in heat transfer fluid for water based cooling & heating systems that improves heat transfer by up to 15%!

“A revolutionary cooling solution for the challenges of a warming planet”

Maxwell™ is an engineered suspension of sub-micron aluminum oxide particles in a base fluid of water or water/glycol (“nanofluid”). Maxwell™ is a drop-in additive for cooling and heating systems, that works by enhancing heat transfer and thereby significantly reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Maxwell™ is named after James Clerk Maxwell the pioneering Scottish scientist who in the late 19th Century discovered that adding metallic particles to water improved thermal energy transfer, thus creating the world’s first heat transfer fluid. Over a century later, Maxwell™ is our patented implementation of this discovery, allowing systems using closed hydronic loops to benefit from the thermal properties of stable suspensions of metallic nanoparticles.

How Maxwell™ Works in a Chilled Water System

Water (or a water/glycol mix) is circulated from the chiller in a closed evaporator loop to Air Handling UJnits (‘AHU’). Maxwell™ increases the transfer of heat in the chiller evaporation cycle, reducing compressor “lift” or work and thus, the consumption of electrical energy. Maxwell™ also increases thermal energy transfer in the AHU coils, which allows for higher chilled water set points, and lower fluid and air flow rates through pumps and fans, reducing their electrical power consumption. Maxwell™ can also be used in a closed condenser circuit but not with an open cooling tower.

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Applications

Chillers

Maxwell™ typically increases heat transfer in the chiller evaporator by 12.5 % to 15%, reducing compressor lift (work) and electrical energy consumption. Maxwell™ can also be used in a closed condenser circuit with a closed cooling tower, which provides for a similar increase in efficiency on the other half of the chiller’s refrigerant cycle. The initial investment in a heat transfer fluid for a water-based HVAC system is insignificant compared to the cost of chillers, pumps, piping and other system components. However, an HVAC system’s performance, longevity, and long-term maintenance costs can be significantly affected by the heat transfer fluid that is used. For air or water-cooled chiller systems, Maxwell™ performance increase will result in more efficient equipment selection, reduced equipment room (MER) size, electrical service sizing and more.

Heat Pumps

Maxwell™ increases the heat transfer from the outside air or condenser fluid to the system fluid through the heat exchanger. This increase in heat transfer reduces compressor lift by 12.5 % to 15%. In colder climates, many HVAC systems add glycol to the base fluid for freeze protection, which has the affect of reducing the thermal energy transfer which is referred to as the “glycol penalty”. Maxwell™, by increasing the thermal energy transfer, will substantially offset this “glycol penalty” in existing buildings. Additionally, when Maxwell is implemented during the design phase of new buildings, it can materially reduce the size of HVAC equipment, again reducing costs.

Energy Recovery Systems

Energy recovery systems are designed to save energy and reduce heating and cooling loads on an HVAC system.
In the typical situation where no cross-contamination
is required, a run-around loop is the system of choice. When added to the run-around loop, Maxwell™ increases heat transfer at the exhaust fan recovery coil and air handler pre-heat / cool coil by 15% or more allowing the fluid pump to run on lower flow rate/power. Maxwell™ offers significant heat transfer improvement, energy savings, carbon emissions reductions and improved equipment performance in energy recovery systems.

Pumps, Fans & Terminal Units

Maxwell™ increases thermal energy transfer throughout the hydronic system. Fan coil and air handling units, system pumps and supply fans, can operate on lower power without compromising comfort.

Industries Benefitting from Maxwell™:

Office Buildings

Chillers, heat pumps and associated mechanical systems will operate more energy- efficiently with Maxwell™ added to the system. Maxwell™ is a simple, instant and cost-effective way for building owners and property managers to reduce energy costs and meet regulatory green initiative targets.

Data Centers

Global energy demand for data centres exceeded 200 terawatt hours in 2021. Since cooling is the main component of data centre energy consumption, Maxwell™ can play a significant role in reducing the power consumed by chillers, pumps, and fans, especially in warmer climates where “free cooling” is not available.

Health Care

Hospitals, research and pharmaceutical facilities require high quantities of outside air intake and generally operate 24/7/365. Maxwell™ allows chillers, heat pumps and energy recovery systems to operate more efficiently, reducing energy costs and maintenance requirements while extending equipment life.

Manufacturing

Maxwell™ can be used in HVAC systems that provide environmental cooling and heating to manufacturing areas. Certain manufacturing processes may be able to use Maxwell™ in closed chilled water loops that serve production equipment requiring cooling.

Warehousing

Most warehouses and logistic centres use a combination of chillers and adiabatic cooling.
Any closed loop hydronic systems can use Maxwell to reduce the energy consumption of compressors, pumps and fans.

Residential

Traditional closed-loop chilled water cooling and hot water heating systems can benefit from Maxwell™. For water-source heat pumps, Maxwell can be added to the central condenser fluid loop to reduce power consumption by the compressors and lower fluid flow rates.

Main benefits

• Substantial energy savings.
• Carbon emissions reduced proportionally to reductions in energy consumption.
• Improved equipment performance, reducing maintenance requirements.
• Expanded capacity of existing equipment that can increase performance and output.
• The ability to use smaller, less costly and more efficient equipment in the design process of an HVAC system.
• Long useful life (10+ years), after which Maxwell™ can be recovered from the System and is fully recyclable.
• Wide operating temperature range.
• Maxwell™ is non-corrosive and non-toxic.

Average Payback Period

Because of Maxwell’s efficiency, the cost of a typical installation is generally paid back within 1 – 3 years, depending on the utilization rate of HVAC equipment and the local costs of electricity/natural gas.

Sustainability Impact of Using Maxwell™

With companies trying to meet stringent sustainability targets, Maxwell™ is a simple, low-cost method for delivering a meaningful impact across a wide range of applications and industries.

Emissis supported by our partner Insynch are proud to be able to deliver the Maxwell™ cooling solution across the world…

The Solution

• Patented Innovative heat transfer nanofuild additive
• Effective in any closed – loop water or water/glycol – based system
• Suitable for cooling, heating and process applications
• comprises only 2% of total system fluid volume