New technology promises the future of cooling

searching for More efficient and sustainable cooling methods He has scientists. Oak Ridge National Laboratory(ORNL) Driven by the search for innovative materials. The advances made so far could revolutionize the way we cool our homes, cars, and electronics.

Specializing in science and technology US Department of Energy The laboratory being operated is studying one of the most promising technologies. It is about that Solid state cooling that offers many advantages over traditional systems..

What is solid state cooling?

Solid state cooling relies on Special materials that absorb and release heat when exposed to a magnetic field. It eliminates the need for traditional chillers and moving parts. This approach is not only more efficient, but also “more environmentally friendly” As if that weren't enough, these systems are also quieter, more compact, and able to control temperature with great precision.

The ORNL team began work on a magnetic alloy made of nickel, cobalt, manganese and indium.

This material has the ability to change its shape and return to its original state when heated or exposed to a magnetic field, a process known as the “magnetic thermoelectric effect.” During this transitional phase The material absorbs heat from its surroundings and then releases it back, thus cooling the surroundings..

Solid State Cooling Efficiency and Potential

The key to the effectiveness of this alloy lies in its atomic structure, which is a disordered state, called Iron glass caseis approaching. This condition Improves the material's ability to retain and release heat..

Using advanced tools Discover the Researchers synchronized patterns of vibrations (phonons) and magnetic waves (magnetism) in the material.which are called localized magnon-phonon hybrid modes. These modes greatly affect the thermal properties of the material.

This discovery is crucial to the development of more efficient solid cooling materials that could eventually replace traditional coolers and mechanical parts.

When a magnetic field is applied, these hybrid modes alter the vibrations of the material, changing its stability and behavior. This change increases the material's ability to retain and release heat and triples the cooling performance of magnetically shaped alloys.

Environmental benefits

Conventional cooling methods rely on refrigerants that can be harmful to the environment, and on complex mechanical systems that are noisy and prone to failure. On the other hand, solid state cooling offers a cleaner, quieter, and more efficient alternative..

This achievement not only promises to improve energy efficiency, but also reduce the environmental impact associated with conventional cooling systems.

ORNL's research represents an important step toward more sustainable living and provides a glimpse into The future of coolingThe ability of these innovative materials to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact makes them so An attractive option for a variety of applications.From domestic refrigeration to industrial refrigeration.

This is how you can cool your computer!

This is a great example of how this technology can be applied in the real world. An innovative cooling system called Jet to American company Four systemsIt was in the end. International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was introduced in Las Vegas and uses a similar principle to solid-state refrigeration. Cool Fanless Electronics.

This device is used Tiny membranes vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency to create an airflow that increases thermal energy transfer.This technology allows the chips of laptops, smartphones, tablets and solid state drives to be cooled more efficiently and quietly than traditional fans.

The future is closer than we think

Solid state cooling provides one Revolutionary advances in refrigeration technology This type of technology could be applied in everyday situations very soon.

With materials like magnetic shape memory alloys, this is possible. More efficient, quieter and environmentally friendly cooling systems To develop. In addition, applications such as those for cooling appear. computer chips The potential of this technology to transform the cooling of all types of electronic devices and Compact solutions with low energy consumption To view.