Photo credit: Hong Kong University of Sciences and Technologies
A team led by researchers from the University of Sciences and Technology of Hong Kong may have found a more ecological alternative to traditional cooling systems, allowing people to stay cool without heating the planet.
Air conditioning is ideal for keeping houses cool but also contributes to warming The climate, like part of the electricity consumed to supply the AC units dirty energy. As detailed In a academic report published by Tech Xplore and a correspondent study Published in Nature, the team of researchers has developed the very first “elastocalorical green cooling device on a kilowatt scale” in the world “.
Elastocaloric cooling, a form of cooling in a solid state, uses formal memory alloys (SMAS) to cool houses without emitting bench gases, according to the university report. It is also very efficient in energy, making it a promising alternative to commercial AC. However, the previous elastocaloric cooling devices could not pass the threshold at the kilowatt scale necessary for commercial ACs.
The researchers discovered two basic problems that prevented previous devices from meeting requirements on the kilowatt scale. First of all, the devices had difficulty balancing the specific cooling power of the refrigerant with the total active mass. Second, the devices could not transfer heat effectively for high frequency operation.
To solve these problems, the team proposed a multi -cell architecture design they called in their study “SMAS in series – Fluid in Palall”. According to the report, this design connects 10 elastocaloric cooling units along the strength’s application direction, with nickel-titane alloy tubes contained in each unit.
The tubes increase the heat exchange efficiency of the device. Parallel fluid channels also help improve efficiency by maintaining the system’s pressure under 1.5 bar, guaranteeing its stability when using high frequency.
The proposed design has replaced traditional distilled water with a graphene nanofluide, a heat transfer medium which can make heat 50% more effectively, even by only two grams per liter concentration.
As the Tech Xplore Post explained, the researchers tested the cooling device in a model of a cubic meter of 2.7 in an outdoor summer environment and managed to stabilize interior temperatures at 21-22 degrees Celsius (around 70-72 degrees fahrenheit) within 15 minutes, even when the external temperatures were at 30-31 degrees Celsius degrees degrees). This would have marked the first time that an elastocalorical cooling device has exceeded the threshold at the kilowatt scale.
“This achievement demonstrates the potential of the large -scale application of elastocaloric cooling technology“Said Professor Sun Qingping, one of the main researchers, according to the publication.” We work with the industry to stimulate its marketing. “
With the increase in global temperatures, demand for air conditioning and cooling also increases. By Our world in dataThe International Energy Agency estimated that the demand for air conditioners could triple by 2050.
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Air conditioning approximately counted 3% global carbon pollution trapping heat and 7% of global electricity consumption in 2022, according to the same report. These percentages should increase with the growing demand for turnover and cooling.
If the breakthrough of the search team allows elastocaloric cooling technology To become available in trade, consumers may be able to reduce their electricity bills and reduce their dependence to dirty energy. Associate it with green energy solutions such as Installation of solar panels could still improve energy efficiency while helping owners Reduce carbon footprints.
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