The Korea Institute of Vitality Analysis (KIER) has developed, for the primary time within the nation, a refrigeration know-how that makes use of air as a refrigerant as an alternative of Freon gasoline, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and different refrigerants that trigger international warming.
The European Union’s revised regulation on fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) took impact in March this 12 months. Beginning in 2025, the gross sales of the merchandise containing F-gases will probably be progressively phased out. Moreover, laws on processes utilizing F-gases are anticipated to be strengthened. Since F-gases are utilized in key Korean export merchandise corresponding to air conditioners, vehicles, and semiconductor processes, there’s a pressing have to develop different applied sciences.
The analysis workforce efficiently developed an built-in ultra-high-speed compander utilized in air refrigeration and, for the primary time in Korea, created an air cooling system. By utilizing this method, it’s potential to realize a temperature surroundings of -60 levels Celsius utilizing air as a refrigerant.
Conventional refrigeration and cooling methods have primarily used the vapor compression cycle. On this methodology, cooling is achieved because the liquid refrigerant evaporates and absorbs warmth. Because of its easy construction and design, it’s extensively used throughout numerous fields. Nonetheless, a key downside is its dependence on fluorinated greenhouse gases as coolants, resulting in the impression of world warming.
In response, the analysis workforce targeted on implementing a cooling system based mostly on the reverse-Brayton cycle, which makes use of air because the refrigerant. Not like the standard methodology that includes evaporating a liquid, this method compresses a gasoline after which goes by way of warmth trade and growth to supply a low-temperature gasoline, enabling cooling with out the necessity for liquid refrigerants.
Nonetheless, the complexity of designing and constructing such a system has been a big problem, stopping its software in refrigeration methods till now. The compander should be designed with excessive precision as a result of ultra-high-speed rotation throughout the cooling course of. As an example, the gaps between parts and shaft displacement require a tolerance inside 0.1 millimeters.
To implement the reverse-Brayton cycle system, the analysis workforce devised a compander system that connects the compressor, expander, and motor on a single shaft. Though the compressor and expander are related to a single shaft, every gadget should function at its personal most effectivity. Moreover, the shaft system design ensures steady operation even at ultra-high rotational speeds, additional enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the system.
The cooling system using the developed compander efficiently cooled air to under -60 levels Celsius inside only one hour. Notably, when producing chilly temperatures under -50 levels Celsius, the system demonstrated increased refrigeration effectivity in comparison with conventional vapor compression methods. Theoretically, it’s able to cooling right down to -100 levels Celsius, and at that temperature, the refrigeration effectivity is predicted to enhance by greater than 50% in comparison with vapor compression methods.
Dr. Beom Joon Lee, the lead researcher, acknowledged, “Due to environmental regulations, refrigeration systems that primarily use refrigerants with a high global warming potential are rapidly transitioning to the use of eco-friendly refrigerants.”
He added, “We are currently working on improving the system’s performance to enable the production of cold temperatures below -100 degrees Celsius. We anticipate that this technology will be applied in fields that require ultra-low temperatures, such as semiconductor processes, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology.”
Nationwide Analysis Council of Science and Expertise
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New air-based refrigeration system developed to switch dangerous refrigerants (2024, August 27)
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