PAX Products in Development
PAX's initial offering is Sonoma Cool, an innovative commercial air conditioner that dramatically reduces energy usage by managing humidity more effectively.
Other development initiatives include:
HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) and Refrigeration
The global market for both room and unitary air conditioners is growing, spurred by rising incomes, climate change, and trends in building construction. Market differentiators include energy efficiency—air conditioning is a significant factor in summertime "brown-outs"—and noise. Similarly, the refrigerator/freezer market is looking at unprecedented growth while needing to address the issues created by hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) regulation.
In addition to our Sonoma Cool product line, PAX is continuing work to improve both air conditioning systems and refrigeration units. Using our patented geometries to redesign compressors, evaporators, heat exchangers, and chillers, the goal is to optimize energy efficiency and heat transfer capacity.
Exploratory Activities
PAX Streamline's core R&D team is investigating other potential markets that can benefit from our biomimetic methodologies. To learn more about the drag reduction challenges facing the aerospace industry, PAX has partnered with fluid dynamics experts at Stanford University to study ways to manage tip vortices and reduce drag for a variety of aerospace applications. We are also performing CFD simulations to study the surface profiles of wings and wingtips.
Power Generation
Wind turbines have long played a role in the clean energy market, but are plagued by structural fatigue, noise, and environmental impacts, and have struggled to increase their efficiency. The turbine team at PAX is focused on blade optimization, with current concept prototypes that reduce drag and noise while maximizing power production. These optimized blades employ streamlining "winglets" that have the cross-market potential to improve aircraft, race cars, and other high-speed vehicles as well as wind generators.
On October 26, 2009, PAX Streamline was awarded a $3 million ARPAE grant from the US Department of Energy to pursue development of "blown wing" technology for wind turbines. Blown wing turbine blades are lighter and less costly to both manufacture and install. Additionally, they adjust to flow conditions—unlike current turbine blade technologies—making them more effective at power generation. Blown wing technology has the potential to reduce the cost of wind turbines and allow for the expansion of distributed wind energy across the United States.
Intellectual Property
PAX holds numerous patents on its technologies throughout the industrialized world, and engages in continuous patent development. In addition to technology currently being commercialized, PAX holds international patent applications for an even wider range of products and design tools. PAX works with various local and international firms specializing in intellectual property protection.