Advanced technologies
The most common technology for cold generation in household appliances is the compression refrigeration cycle, which uses a phase-changing working fluid. However, alternative systems such as non-vapor compression refrigeration are being explored. These systems either pressurize the working fluid without a compressor, maintain the fluid's phase throughout, or use solid-state elements. Technologies like thermoelectric, magnetocaloric, elastocaloric, electrochemical, and hydrogen-based refrigeration offer potential for low power cooling, but challenges such as low efficiency, material limitations, and heat transfer issues remain. Despite these challenges, these technologies are being researched for high-efficiency solutions in future domestic cooling applications.
The project focuses on developing a novel low-power, high-efficiency, and low-noise cooling process called the Moist-H2 cooling process. This method utilizes an electrochemical hydrogen compressor, combining electrochemically compressed hydrogen with refrigerant evaporation to produce "moist hydrogen" for cooling, without the need for a pressure relief device. Early thermodynamic assumptions suggest competitive efficiency and very low noise levels due to the compressor’s lack of moving parts. The project benefits from the expertise of the Hydrogen Centre Austria (HyCentA), with key researchers like R. Almbauer and A. Trattner involved in the development of electrochemical H2 compressors.
