Researchers have built the first refrigerant-free system to reach sub-zero temperatures, a breakthrough that could reduce food waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

Imaging if this technology could cool a data centre.

  • kalkulat@lemmy.worldEnglish
    7·
    3 hours ago

    The link says ‘zero-emissions-cooling’

    The article sez: “It relies on the temperature change of materials called shape memory alloys (SMAs) when they are stretched and released.”

    How do you stretch something without producing any emissions?

    • Gladaed@feddit.orgEnglish
      2·
      52 minutes ago

      You can’t. It’s a different kind of heat pump.

      If it is more efficient than vacuum-compression it’s good.

      Most refrigerants are extremely toxic and extreme green house gasses. But there are safer alternatives, eg. CO2.

    • lefaucet@slrpnk.netEnglish
      5·
      3 hours ago

      I thought the same thing.

      Seems they are mainly saying they developed cooling method that doesn’t rely on a greenhouse gas for a refrigerant. Not nothing.

      …and if you stretch and release something off solar/wind power greenhouse emissions will be very low indeed.

      I’m curious about lifespan of these systems. I don’t know much about SMAs, but my intuition says they degrade. Am I wrong? I hope I am :)