
The cooling effect incused by sandwiched nanosponge Credit: Hirotomo Nishihara
A research team of Tohoku University, Nissan Motor Co., Shinshu University, and Okayama University made a groundbreaking discovery in the quest to replace hydrofluorocarbons in refrigeration systems with natural refrigerants such as water and alcohol.
Their study involved carrying-out a liquid-to-gas phase transition via a nanosponge, a soft, elastic material equipped with small nanopores less than 10 nanometers. Their findings could lead to more efficient refrigerants with a smaller carbon footprint.
Refrigeration systems are widely used in air conditioners and refrigerators. Conventional systems use hydrofluorocarbons as a refrigerant. However, hydrofluorocarbons are super pollutants. Their Global Warming Potential is about 1300 times higher than that of CO2.
The team of researchers successfully carried out a force-driven liquid-to-gas phase transition using a nanosponge. When a normal, wet sponge is squeezed, naturally, water is expected to come out. However, when using a nanosponge with a pore size of under 10 nanometers, a different phenomenon occurs. Even under low pressure, the sponge retains its liquid.
When applying force, however, the expelled liquid immediately evaporates into gas. Furthermore, as the sponge returns to its natural shape, it adsorbs the gas as a liquid into the nanopores again.
Until now, researchers have not carried out the squeezing process of nanoporous materials because conventional materials are too hard to be deformed. Nevertheless, the team circumvented this by creating their own soft, elastic, nanoporous materials, consisting of a single-layer of graphene walls. They measured their results using a home-made equipment designed to monitor liquid-gas phase transition when mechanical force is applied.
The team thought about the squeezing method after developing soft nanoporous materials. But even they could not anticipate their prediction becoming reality at the first attempt.
To date, there have been only two methods of converting trapped liquid into gas: i. heating or ii. decreasing the gas-phase pressure. The squeezing method provides a third way, generating a new theme in the field of physical chemistry and paving the path for more environmentally friendly refrigeration systems. Cool stuff!
Learn more: Developing a New Type of Refrigeration via Force-Driven Liquid Gas Transition
The Latest on: Refrigeration
via Google News
The Latest on: Refrigeration
- Low Carbon Refrigeration Systems for Large Distribution Centres to be discussed at IMECHE Conferenceon February 23, 2021 at 7:00 am
Star Refrigeration is inviting cold chain customers to attend an online event focused on the critical challenge of achieving ...
- Refrigeration Oil Market 2021 Growth, Segments, by Size, Share, Key News and Top Companies Overview to 2025on February 22, 2021 at 9:29 am
The MarketWatch News Department was not involved in the creation of this content. Feb (AmericaNewsHour) -- Global Refrigeration Oil Market: Information by Type (Mineral Oil and Synthetic Oil ...
- Haier's 70 million Euro Refrigeration plant in Romania to start production in late Spring 2021on February 19, 2021 at 10:59 pm
Haier Europe announces that construction of the first Haier refrigeration production facility in the EU is proceeding according to schedule, with production expected to start in late Spring 2021. This ...
- High-efficiency magnetic refrigeration using holmiumon February 19, 2021 at 2:21 am
Magnetic refrigeration offers a promising alternative to gas cycle cooling; however, it is typically hampered by the need for large magnetic fields. Here, the authors demonstrate that holmium can ...
- Transport Refrigeration Units Market Size 2021 CAGR Value, Growth Rate, Top Key Players, Industry Share, Types, Applications and Forecast 2024on February 18, 2021 at 4:44 pm
Our Company has been monitoring the transport refrigeration units market and it is poised to grow by USD 2.68 bn during 2020-2024 progressing at a CAGR of 5% during the forecast period. Our reports on ...
- Increasing consumption of packaged food products is expected to drive the refrigeration oil marketon February 17, 2021 at 4:20 pm
Browse 89 market data Tables and 38 Figures spread through 125 Pages and in-depth TOC on “Refrigeration Oil Market”” Refrigeration Oil Market by ...
- Staying safe during extended power outages: What to do in the absence of heat, refrigeration and electricityon February 17, 2021 at 11:20 am
Power outages can range from being mildly inconvenient to somewhat dangerous, depending on the circumstances. That said, it's always best to prepare ahead of time, for potential periods without power, ...
- DTE Energy offers instant rebates on refrigeration equipment required for COVID-19 vaccine storageon February 16, 2021 at 7:20 am
DTE Energy, a national leader in clean energy, is partnering with distributors to offer savings of up to $1,200 per unit on the purchase of high-efficiency, ultra-low temperature freezers. “DTE is ...
- Thermalin Is Developing No-Refrigeration Insulin and a Postage Stamp-Sized Pumpon February 15, 2021 at 5:59 am
Imagine having an insulin pump that’s so small, it’s equivalent to the size of a postage stamp and is prefilled with an ultra-concentrated form of insulin that doesn’t require refrigeration — and with ...
- Pfizer tells OC officials it’s safe to use vaccine doses affected by refrigeration issueon February 10, 2021 at 1:39 pm
The doses of COVID-19 vaccine stored at the mass vaccination site at Soka University experienced a refrigeration problem overnight.
via Bing News