We depend on AC for comfort, but it has a hidden price.
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We depend on AC for comfort, but it has a hidden price. Billions of air conditioners worldwide use harmful refrigerant, ironically worsening the global warming they’re designed to alleviate.
To tackle this issue, Barocal, a zero-carbon refrigeration spin-out of the University of Cambridge, is working on the development of “soft, waxy solid refrigerant.” Its unique properties hold the key to a greener, more efficient way to cool.
“In our quest to find alternatives to harmful refrigerant gases, we discovered a new class of solid materials that match the thermal performance of traditional refrigerants,” the Barocal website mentions.
Energy-efficient solid refrigerants
With the planet warming, the demand for air conditioning is skyrocketing.
Currently, there are already as many as 2 billion air conditioning units operating on a global scale. The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts a significant increase, predicting this number will almost triple to over 5.5 billion units by the year 2050.
This is alarming for the world, already reeling under the impacts of global warming.
The IEA highlights that emissions from air conditioners are rising annually due to both refrigerant leaks and energy usage. This escalating trend underscores the urgent need to find and implement sustainable cooling solutions.
A team led by Xavier Moya, a professor of materials physics at the University of Cambridge, decided to develop solid refrigerants that do not leak, and promises 2-3 times greater energy efficiency than the existing systems.
As per Cambridge Enterprise, the solid-state material is called a barocaloric material.
These affordable and non-toxic organic materials efficiently release and absorb heat by changing volume under pressure, making them more efficient than traditional fluid refrigerants. Being solid, they are also more environmentally friendly and easier to recycle.
Reportedly, Professor Moya has been studying the fascinating properties of the “plastic crystals” for over a decade. The secret lies in a phenomenon called the “barocaloric effect.”
AFP stated that these crystals are made of molecules that constantly spin. With the application of pressure, this movement stops, and the energy is released as heat. Release the pressure, and the substance rapidly cools its surroundings. It’s an invisible process with potentially huge implications.
With the potential to slash emissions by as much as 75%, Barocal’s innovative cooling technology could be a game-changer in combating climate change.
Suitcase-sized prototype
To bring this groundbreaking research to life, Professor Moya founded the startup Barocal in 2019.
What started as a university project is now a growing company, attracting significant investment from the European Innovation Council and even Breakthrough Energy, backed by Bill Gates.
The team has reportedly said that the first air-conditioner prototype will be the size of a suitcase.
Using hydraulic pressure to manipulate the solid refrigerant within its cylinders, it effectively chills a small refrigerator.
The system consists of various components, including a pump, a pressurized chamber, heat exchanger for both hot and cold.
The technology, now being developed for cooling, holds promise for future heating applications too.
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Barocal has ambitious plans, aiming to launch its first products within the next three years.
The initial focus will be on commercial clients like shopping centers, warehouses, schools, and data centers. The long-term goal is to reduce production costs to eventually compete in the residential market.
Mrigakshi Dixit Mrigakshi is a science journalist who enjoys writing about space exploration, biology, and technological innovations. Her work has been featured in well-known publications including Nature India, Supercluster, The Weather Channel and Astronomy magazine. If you have pitches in mind, please do not hesitate to email her.
