In a world constantly seeking effective ecological solutions, a groundbreaking advancement in cooling technology could create a turning point.
Researchers have developed a solid-state thermoelectric cooling device capable of generating a temperature difference of 20 Kelvin (minus 253 degrees Celsius) with high efficiency.
This discovery could compete with current solid cooling methods, offering a promising alternative to vapor compression cooling systems, which are inefficient and harmful to the environment.
The new discovery could replace air conditioners and reduce energy consumption. (Image source: Trust My Science).
The principle behind this new cooling system is based on a phenomenon known as thermoelectric cooling.
Specifically, an electric field applied to the material alters the direction of the charge carriers, causing a temporary increase in temperature, which then decreases when the electric field is removed.
Scientist Junning Li, Emmanuel Defay, and their colleagues at the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology have researched this method, using strips of material called lead scandium tantalate.
These strips, stacked together and immersed in a heat transfer fluid (silicone oil), create permanent hot and cold zones with a temperature difference of about 20°C, depending on whether the electric field is applied or not.
Specifically, Li and colleagues have developed a dual-loop thermoelectric pump with a maximum cooling power of 4.2 watts.
Future Prospects and Optimization
This device circulates silicone oil through pipes to cool or heat homes or objects. Although the theoretical efficiency of the device is 67%, its current design achieves only about 12% efficiency.
According to Defay, this efficiency could be improved by discovering better thermal conductors than lead scandium tantalate.
Scientist Neil Mathur from the University of Cambridge (UK) commented: “This is an outstanding efficiency achieved by combining factors that we already know.”
This highlights the benefits of using thin thermoelectric material strips for better cooling efficiency. However, Mathur notes that the research has focused on the cooling capacity of the metal strips themselves rather than the overall efficiency of the entire device.
This innovation marks a significant improvement over traditional cooling systems and could drastically reduce energy consumption, as current cooling systems account for 20% of global electricity use.
Future research may focus on improving the efficiency of the device and exploring its potential for large-scale applications.
