Imagine opening the refrigerator on a hot summer day, hoping to have some refreshing drinks, and realizing that this universal device operates using revolutionary technology to our environment. This is not a distant future scenario, but a reality, which is brought about by the latest advancements in cooling technology. Scientists have developed a new type of refrigerator that relies on heat instead of harmful chemicals or complex mechanical parts to keep it cold. This cutting-edge approach not only gives a glimpse into the future where our cooling needs to be consistent with environmental management, but also redefines our traditional concept of refrigeration.
Keeping our food fresh and living space comfortable, refrigeration is indispensable for modern life. However, environmental losses of traditional cooling systems, especially their role in greenhouse gas emissions, have prompted researchers to seek greener solutions. Among them, the pioneering method is to heat-driven thermally acoustic refrigerators. The system produces a cooling effect through the interaction of sound waves with gases, avoiding the need for refrigerants and complex moving parts.
Leading this innovative research were Professor Ercang Luo, Dr. Zhanghua Wu and Lei Xiao of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. They have made significant breakthroughs in cooling efficiency. Their research, presented in Cell Reporting Physics Science, demonstrates an efficient cooling system that achieves impressive energy efficiency, exceeding many current technologies.
At the heart of its design is a clever bypass configuration that manages energy flow within the system for increased efficiency. By optimizing the proportion of bypassing the energy flow, this setting allows the system to operate more efficiently, especially at higher temperatures. These advances could revolutionize air conditioning and apply gases such as natural gas and hydrogen during cooling.
Dr. Zhanghua Wu shares insights into the unique benefits of the system and explains how it uses sound and heat to cool. Unlike traditional methods that may be losses, their designs connect the cooling engine and cooler through special tubes, thus increasing efficiency.
The team’s work directly addresses the urgent need for environmentally friendly and effective cooling solutions. By leveraging the principle of thermal energy conversion and perfecting the energy management of the system, they not only set new efficiency records, but also show the real potential of the technology.
Professor Ercang Luo emphasized the broader significance of the project, pointing to the motivation to seek efficiency by increasing temperature use. Adopting this strategy can better utilize energy, responding to the principles of optimal energy use and sustainability. As society faces challenges of climate change and challenges in promoting sustainable technologies, the achievements of Professor Luo, Dr. Wu, Lei Xiao and their teams become innovative beacons. Their work provides a promising alternative that can drive forward areas in the refrigeration sector while contributing to global environmental protection efforts.
Journal Reference
Lei Xiao, Kaiqi Luo, Zhanghua Wu et al., “High-efficiency Thermal-driven Thermal Acoustic Cooling System”, Cell Relled Relle Cell Refter Relth Refter Relth Refter Refter Refter Refter Refter Refter Refter Refter Refter Refter Refter Refter Refter Byshial Science, February 21, 2024.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrp.2024.101815.
About the Author
Lei Xiao([email protected])
Lei Xiao received a bachelor’s degree from Huizong University of Science and Technology in 2021. He currently has a Ph.D. Candidate from the Institute of Physics and Chemical Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His research focuses on thermal acoustic and Sterling systems, especially thermally driven thermal acoustic refrigeration.
Zhanghua Wu ([email protected])
Zhanghua Wu received his bachelor’s degree and a doctorate from Zhejiang University in 2001. Degree from the Institute of Physics and Chemical Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2006. He is currently an associate professor at the Institute of Physics and Chemical Technology. His research focuses on thermal acoustic and Sterling systems, including cooling and power generation based on thermal acoustic and Sterling technologies.
Ercang Luo (( [email protected])
Ercang Luo received his bachelor’s degree from Tsinghua University in 1990 and received his Ph.D. Degree from the Low Temperature Laboratory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1997. He is currently a professor at the Institute of Physics and Chemical Technology. His current research interests focus mainly on new refrigeration and power generation technologies, including thermal and Stirling refrigerators, thermal and Stirl Generator, and supersonic extended refrigeration technologies.
