End of air conditioning? Scientists create cooler that does not use electricity

O world Everything is currently experiencing a constant increase in temperatures, which has resulted in an increasing search for solutions to reduce thermal sensation.

Because of this, air conditioning has become a common alternative among people, but, on the other hand, it also raises concerns about its environmental impact and excessive consumption of energy. electricity.

In this sense, researchers are looking for a more efficient and sustainable solution to replace air conditioning, which promotes a decrease in temperature while reducing damage to the environment.

With this in mind, scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) developed a new device that uses a complex cooling system to reduce ambient heat by up to 9.3 degrees Celsius. And best of all, the device can work without using electricity. Find out more below.

Scientists create cooler that does not use electricity

Photo: Review Box/Reproduction

The researchers used three different passive cooling methods, that is, without the use of fans, to develop their innovative technology: evaporative cooling, radiant and thermal insulation.

The joint work of the techniques promotes high performance in reducing temperatures in indoor environments and can be used in places where access to electricity is not yet a reality, such as in inland cities in tropical countries.

Its design resembles a board. solar energy, with three layers playing different roles. In fact, one of these layers is composed of a material known as the lightest and least dense solid ever produced, with high insulating capacity, airgel.

How does the device work?

In the first layer of the device, the lower one, there is a high capacity reflector that reflects all the solar rays that reach it to the upper layers, reducing the thermal impacts of the radiation.

The hydrogel, composed of a spongy material mostly made of water, is the component of the middle part of the device. The water contained in it is heated by the incident and reflected rays, evaporating and reducing the temperature of the device.

Photo: Test refrigerator built by MIT. Credits: Zhengmao Lu/MIT/Reproduction

In the upper part, there is the airgel, which is basically a compound in which, instead of a liquid and solid mixture, there is a solid and gaseous mixture. This allows the formation of a material that is 99.98% air, but is still solid.

The airgel is inserted into a spongy structure of polyethylene, allowing the passage of water vapor and infrared radiation, due to its high percentage of air. At the same time, it thermally insulates the environment, preventing the passage of heat.

How to use it and means of production

According to scientist Zhengmao Lu, from MIT, the device can work simultaneously with air conditioning, sending cold water to the device’s pipes and cooling it. He further explains that the hottest part of the device is the condenser:

“By lowering the condenser temperature, you can increase air-conditioning efficiency and save energy,” says Zhengmao Lu.

In tests, the new autonomous technology reduced the ambient temperature by up to 9.3°C. In addition to being able to be used in humid places, where cooling becomes more unfavorable, it can also be applied to buildings.

The only issue for its proper functioning is the use of water, which must be replenished over considerably long periods. However, the technology cannot yet be used on a large scale, even with a reduced production cost and high efficiency.

This is due to the fact that airgel is not widely available on the market. Even so, science is heading towards a more sustainable and developed.