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Review of alternative cooling technologies

Published

Author(s)

S J. Brown, Piotr A. Domanski

Abstract

This paper considers the alternative cooling technologies studied by Fisher et al. (1994) and assesses their current performance and market potential in reference to vapor compression technology. First, a taxonomy of cooling technologies based on the main energy input is presented. Then, several alternative cooling technologies are discussed with sorption cooling, desiccant cooling, magnetocaloric cooling, thermoacoustic cooling, thermoelectric cooling, and transcritical CO2 being discussed in some detail. For each technology, a brief summary of the findings of Fisher et al. (1994) is presented followed by a discussion of the advancements since their study and the current state-of-the-art of the technologies. The paper includes a current assessment of the potential of each of the technologies to compete with or replace vapor compression technology for space cooling and near-room temperature refrigeration in the next twenty year period.
Citation
International Journal of Refrigeration-Revue Internationale Du Froid
Volume
64

Keywords

Air conditioning, refrigeration, energy efficiency, cooling technologies

Citation

Brown, S. and Domanski, P. (2013), Review of alternative cooling technologies, International Journal of Refrigeration-Revue Internationale Du Froid, [online], https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2013.12, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=911252 (Accessed March 28, 2024)
Created December 17, 2013, Updated October 14, 2021