Researchers have built the first refrigerant-free system to reach sub-zero temperatures, a breakthrough that could reduce food waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

Imaging if this technology could cool a data centre.

Edit: I was not involved in this project. You are wasting your time asking me questions.

  • lefaucet@slrpnk.netEnglish
    13·
    19 hours ago

    I thought the same thing.

    Seems they are mainly saying they developed cooling method that doesn’t rely on a greenhouse gas for a refrigerant. Not nothing.

    …and if you stretch and release something off solar/wind power greenhouse emissions will be very low indeed.

    I’m curious about lifespan of these systems. I don’t know much about SMAs, but my intuition says they degrade. Am I wrong? I hope I am :)

    • Echo Dot@feddit.ukEnglish
      1·
      16 hours ago

      They are not new technology the idea has been around since at least the 1980s. There is a reason we don’t use them and it’s because they are mechanically complicated and inefficient. Those in terms of power use and maintenance requirements.

      However with the move to renewable energy maybe that efficiency limitation isn’t as much of a problem as it used to be. Especially if it means you can get away from toxic compounds.

      Although I have never seen a commercial grade implementation of the technology. It’s always just been demos that don’t really achieve enough cooling to be anything other than a curiosity.

      • MBech@feddit.dkEnglish
        1·
        15 hours ago

        They are not new technology the idea has been around since at least the 1980s. There is a reason we don’t use them and it’s because they are mechanically complicated and inefficient

        Not trying to completely throw away your comment here, but I saw this exact same comment repeated ad nauseum about electric cars 15 years ago.