Scientists at Louisiana State University discover a material recently which could change the air conditioning and refrigeration industries.
Physicists at the university discovered a ‘magnetocaloric material’ which has its temperature raised above ambient using magnetic field. The magnetic field has the effect of ordering the material. The excess heat is taken away by a ‘thermal medium’, which could be a water or air. This, in turn, brings the material back to ambient temperature.
Next, the magnetic field is removed which brings magnetic disorder to the material which causes it to drop below ambient temperature. This change leads to cooling. This ‘solid state’ cooling uses less energy than traditional compressor based systems.
In addition, solid state cooling systems like this are quieter and better for the environment because they contain no refrigerants.
The team that made the discovery is led by Professor Shane Stadler.
“We are excited about the potential applications that are available for Dr. Stadler’s technology,” said Andrew Maas, director of the renamed Office of Innovation and Technology Commercialization.
“The Department of Energy, General Electric and other companies around the world have been working with magnetocaloric materials for some time. Dr. Stadler’s solution addresses many of the issues that these big players have encountered.”
An increasing number of companies are beginning to make cooling solutions based on solid state cooling technology. It has strong potential in the domestic, data centre and medical refrigeration markets.