Home / Science / China's Cooling Breakthrough Slashes Emissions
China's Cooling Breakthrough Slashes Emissions
22 Jan
Summary
- New liquid-based cooling method achieves high efficiency and low carbon footprint.
- Researchers discovered a dissolution barocaloric effect in a salt solution.
- Cooling demand is predicted to triple by 2050, doubling emissions.
A significant breakthrough in refrigeration technology has been achieved by Chinese researchers, offering a path to low-carbon cooling solutions.
The discovery involves a dissolution barocaloric effect in an NH4SCN salt solution. When pressure is applied, the salt precipitates and releases heat; depressurization causes rapid dissolution, absorbing substantial heat and causing a temperature drop of nearly 30 degrees Celsius at room temperature.
This innovative approach unifies refrigerant and heat transfer mediums in a single fluid, simultaneously delivering low carbon emissions, high cooling capacity, and efficient heat transfer. Designed with a four-step cyclic system, simulations demonstrate impressive heat absorption and up to 77 percent energy efficiency.
The research, published in Nature, provides a new principle for refrigeration and lays the groundwork for next-generation cooling technologies, particularly for large-scale applications like data centers.
Globally, cooling demand is expected to more than triple by 2050, with current methods contributing significantly to electricity consumption and carbon emissions.
