Schematic of regenerative ionocaloric cycle. Credit: Science (2022). DOI: 10.1126/science.ade1696 Posted on 12/27/2022 11:59:51 AM PST by Red Badger
Schematic of regenerative ionocaloric cycle. Credit: Science (2022). DOI: 10.1126/science.ade1696
A pair of researchers at Lawrence Berkely National Laboratory used a commonly known, naturally occurring phenomenon to build a new kind of environmentally safe refrigerator.
In their paper published in the journal Science, Drew Lilley and Ravi Prasher describe how expanding on the idea of using salt to melt road ice to design and build a new kind of refrigerator. Emmanuel Defay, with the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, has published a Perspective piece in the same journal issue outlining the work done by the pair in California.
For many years, people around the world have used salt to melt road ice to make travel easier. Though technically, the salt does not melt the ice, its dark color attracts heat, allowing the ice below it to melt, which than allows the salt to mix with the water. And it does not refreeze because the salt dramatically lowers the freezing point of the water.
It was on this part of the process that the researchers focused. They noted that a similar process could result in cooling a material simply by mixing it with sodium iodide (NaI) salt due to the phase transition. The second material in this case was an ethylene carbonate (EC) solvent. They further noted that repeatedly cooling a material should also cool the environment in which it is contained. And to make that happen, all they had to do was remove the salt, and then add it again.
The researchers call their process "ionocaloric" refrigeration, and built such a refrigerator to prove that it was viable. They started with a box and then added a mixing device to mix their two ingredients and another device that performed electrodialysis to remove the salt. Then tested the resulting device to determine if it would keep the temperature inside the box at a steady cool temperature, and if so, if it was more or less efficient than other refrigeration devices.
Their testing showed that their refrigerator was able to maintain a cool temperature and that it was approximately as efficient as refrigerators now on the market. The big advantage of the approach is that it does not emit any hydrofluorocarbons or other pollutants. They acknowledge that it does have one drawback—it takes quite a while for the mixed solution to cool.
More information: Drew Lilley et al, Ionocaloric refrigeration cycle, Science (2022). DOI: 10.1126/science.ade1696 Emmanuel Defay, Cool it, with a pinch of salt, Science (2022). DOI: 10.1126/science.adf5114
Journal information: Science
Thanks for linking the MSDS that sinks your claim ...
-
Ingestion: May cause irritation of the digestive tract. May cause kidney damage.
Ingestion: If victim is conscious and alert, give 2-4 cupfuls of milk or water. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Get medical aid if irritation or symptoms occur.
” Since this article cherry picked data”
There was only one set of data (one device).
“Based on that alone, we can assume it’s less than current refrigerators.”
ASS U ME
What’s wrong with ammonia cycle? Be kinda nice to be able to run your fridge from a propane tank or direct solar when the AC power goes off.
This technology is just around the corner .... how far is the corner?
“ Also, a swamp-cooler works best in very low humidity”
That is so true. I knew a couple that years ago brought their swamp cooler with them when they moved from AZ to MO, where we have 60-85% humility in the summer. In a few days time they had a serious mold problem.
How does cost compare? Put it on the market without government subsidies ans see how it goes.
They’re using propane/butane now. Works great as a refrigerant and the chance of it causing an explosion/fire is next to nothing, due to the small quantities and fact that leaks are very rare.
So no need for anything ‘new’, unless fossil fuel use in refrigerators will also be outlawed, even in a closed system - and don’t laugh.
Eh, Einstein thought of one first (I think Bose might’ve contributed) ?
And Electrolux is holding the patent, last I heard.
what if the “victim” is a child or pet that you don’t know that got into the stuff?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.