Key Takeaways
1. Cooling and refrigeration technology is crucial but contributes significantly to electricity use and carbon emissions, with systems responsible for over 7.8% of global emissions.
2. A new research breakthrough by Prof. Li Bing’s team introduces a cooling method using an ammonium thiocyanate salt solution, merging solid and liquid coolant benefits.
3. The innovative cooling cycle can reduce fluid temperature by nearly 30°C in just 20 seconds and achieve a cooling range of up to 54 kelvins at higher temperatures.
4. The new system demonstrates high energy efficiency nearing 77% and a cooling capacity of 67 joules per gram.
5. This zero-carbon emissions technology is poised to address the growing global cooling demands, particularly for future artificial intelligence computing centers.
Cooling and refrigeration technology is one of the most important inventions by humans, but it has a significant environmental impact. The commonly used vapor-compression cooling systems are responsible for around 15% of electricity use in China (as of 2019) and over 7.8% of carbon emissions globally (based on 2020 data). Although solid-state caloric materials have been identified as a low-emission option, their poor heat transfer efficiency has greatly hindered widespread use.
Breakthrough in Cooling Technology
Now, a research team, directed by Prof. Li Bing from the Institute of Metal Research at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has successfully addressed the challenging balance of high cooling capacity, effective heat transfer, and zero-carbon emissions. Their research, published in the journal Nature, showcases a new approach that utilizes the dissolution barocaloric effect.
The researchers accomplished this by employing an ammonium thiocyanate (NH4SCN) salt solution. This innovative method merges the thermal advantages of solid coolants with the quick flow characteristics of liquids. By converting the coolant into a fluid that can be pumped, the system can quickly respond to changes in pressure without encountering the heat-transfer delays that are common in traditional solid interfaces.
Innovative Cooling Cycle
The fundamental process of this new cooling cycle follows a straightforward sequence. In tests conducted at room temperature, the temperature of the fluid dropped by almost 30 kelvins (nearly 30°C) in a mere 20 seconds. The cooling range reached up to 54 kelvins at higher temperatures. Simulations of a four-step prototype cycle demonstrated an energy efficiency nearing 77% and a cooling capacity of 67 joules per gram.
With the global need for cooling expected to triple by 2050 (according to 2022 data), this reliable and reversible technology opens doors for commercial refrigeration that emits no carbon. Its outstanding performance at high temperatures makes it especially effective for handling the significant thermal demands of future artificial intelligence computing centers.
Source:
Link
Leave a Reply