Amongst the many global efforts to enhance energy efficiency, cooling systems are seen by many as one of the best places to focus efforts. Cooling systems like your refrigerator and air conditioning systems are some of the largest consumers of energy. Thankfully, some innovative researchers have introduced a new method of refrigeration that could revolutionize the market. Here’s everything you need to know.
A Brief History of Refrigeration
Keeping food and people cool has been possible since Scottish professor William Cullen introduced the primitive refrigeration method in 1748. This approach used a pump applied to diethyl ether. The vacuum would cause the pressure and heat to rise within the either. The boiling effect would result in heat absorption from the surrounding areas.
In 1834, Jacob Perkins introduced a compressor-based system that paved the way for early home refrigerators. By 1913, the compressor technology had been switched to electric, furthering the evolution of these devices. Notably, the 1927 Monitor-Top unit developed by GE cemented the current refrigerator design.
How Refrigeration Works?
Modern-day refrigeration still relies on a compressor to apply pressure and heat ciruclating refrigerant. The heated refrigerant becomes a high-temperature and pressurized gas solution that gets fed to the condensing unit. From here, cold air is applied, releasing excess heat from the refrigerant into the area.
The cooled gas then reverts to its liquid state before encountering an expansion valve. The expansion valve is responsible for reducing the pressure of the cooled liquid. Next, the cooled liquid absorbs heat from the inside of your refrigerator until it becomes warm enough to revert into gas, and the process repeats.
Notably, this method of cooling has remained largely unchanged since the 1930s. Upgrades have been made to compressor size and efficiency. However, the overall method used to cool these devices remains the same, relying on thermodynamic cycles to reduce temperatures.
Problems with Today’s Refrigeration Method
When you examine today’s refrigeration method, you can see that the coefficient of performance (COP) is low. Compressors are energy-intensive devices that can be loud, heavy, expensive to repair, and produce a lot of heat pollution in the surrounding areas. As researchers seek to shift toward more energy-efficient technologies, how people cool their homes, cars, businesses, and food remains a primary concern. Thankfully, new options are appearing on the horizon.
Refrigeration Study
Recognizing the current limitations and energy consumption restraints that today’s refrigeration technology possesses, a team of creative engineers from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology recently published a study titled “Solvation entropy engineering of thermogalvanic electrolytes for efficient electrochemical refrigeration“1 in the scientific journal Joule.
Source – Huazhong University of Science and Technology
The study introduces a groundbreaking electrochemical process for effective cooling. The new approach relies on a Brayton-like thermogalvanic system that leverages iron-based electrolyte design strategy to produce highly efficient cooling solutions, which could pave the way for a new era of sustainable energy.
Thermogalvanic cells
The use of thermogalvanic cells to cool has been under research and development for years. This method of cooling exploits reversible electrochemical reactions to absorb heat. In many systems, this technology is used to create electricity. However, researchers have discovered a novel low-energy method, enabling electrochemical refrigeration on a new level.
Four Components
The study introduces a device that leverages an endothermic reaction half-cell, an exothermic reaction half-cell, a heat sink, and a heat source in unison. In between the cells filled with special electrolytes, a custom-built porous separator connects the two sides while suppressing any heat transfer.
Chemicals
Part of the research required the team to re-engineer the electrolytes used in today’s systems. Notably, electrolytes serve a vital role as they absorb heat and dissipate cool energy.
The team tested several combinations of solutes and solvents to see which could cool the fastest and longest. The team determined that hydrated iron salts mixed with perchlorate sitting within a nitrile solvent were the best option.
Endothermic Effects
The chemical responses produce a cooling effect that significantly reduces the temperature of the electrolyte solution. The endothermic effect of the electrolyte solution provides several advantages. For one, it maximizes energy efficiency, increasing sustainability. Additionally, it requires far less energy to produce the endothermic cooling effect versus traditional refrigeration methods. This exothermic reaction occurs within a cathode tube, furthering its controllability.
Controlling the Interactions
The main point of contingency in this approach is to control the chemical reactions. The scientist relied on a two-phase approach. This strategy optimized the chemical components of the thermogalvanic electrolytes, enabling them to absorb maximum heat from the surrounding areas.
Interestingly, the team noticed that they gained additional control by altering the ions during the electrochemical processes. They found that their electrolyte solution was ideal for the task as it increased the mobility of iron ions, which helped to enhance the weak Fe2+/3+-ClO4− interactions and selective solvation arrangement of Fe2+ by nitrile solvents.
Refrigeration Study Test
To test their new form of refrigeration, the team constructed a purpose-built device. This sandwich-like electrochemical reactor featured injected electrolyte chambers on either side to help absorb heat. The chambers were filled with carbon-felt electrodes with a porous separator that sat between the two.
The team then began testing the specifics of their creation. They used a thermocouple data logger to register heat changes in the area. Next, a Keithley 2400 instrument registered all voltage and current alterations. From there, a laser confocal Raman spectrometer and a differential scanning calorimeter provided heat capacity measurements. Finally, a conductivity meter was used to test the overall conductivity of the device.
Refrigeration Study Results
The test produced some interesting results. First, it demonstrated that the engineers succeeded in creating high-performance thermogalvanic electrolytes that can sustain high temperature coefficients and low heat capacity. Notably, the team recorded a temperature drop of 1.42 K, which is far more than the average 0.1K delivered by today’s high-efficiency refrigeration systems.
Impressively, the temperature coefficient was boosted to a maximum of 3.73 mV K−1 with a decreased heat capacity. This equates to a direct cooling of ∼1.42 K, using only 0.11 W cm−2 input. This data represents massive upgrades to the efficiency and capabilities of these systems.
Refrigeration Study Benefits
There are a lot of benefits that this cutting-edge cooling technology brings to the market. For one, the world needs eco-friendly cooling solutions. Air conditioning and refrigeration needs are some of the biggest energy-consuming activities that people undertake. The new form of refrigeration introduced in this study provides a coefficient of performance of 14.3 with ∼70% enhanced cooling power, making it ideal for tomorrow’s energy-efficient demands.
Eco-Friendly
Another benefit is that refrigeration requirements shrink when using the new system. Refrigerants are harmful chemicals that, if released into the air, can contribute to ozone destruction and global warming. This new approach uses safer chemicals that produce less harmful waste. As such, many see this tech as the first step to reducing pollution brought on by these devices.
Refrigeration Study Applications
There’s a long list of applications that this technology could find its way into. From keeping your food cool to helping keep quantum computers at their peak performance, new refrigeration methods have the potential to bring substantial upgrades to the world. Here are just a few applications of this technology.
Cooling Systems
Air conditioning systems are a core component of many businesses. Those who live in hot environments or have extreme summer conditions can attest to the fact that an AC is required to operate. Upgrading the system to a more efficient and effective option would help to reduce costs for millions of people and lower pollution.
Wearable Devices
The future includes climate-controlled clothing. These wearables will enable users to stay comfortable in extreme environments. Already, countries like Japan have integrated air conditioning equipped uniforms for some traffic police to help prevent fatigue. In the future, this technology could make this style of wearables easier to use and more accessible to the public.
Refrigerators
The obvious use of this technology is upgrading the aging compressors used in refrigerators today. It’s been nearly 100 years, and this tech has remained untouched except for minimal upgrades. This latest innovation has the potential to upend the market and introduce a new era in cooling sustainability.
Refrigeration Study Researchers
Research into Thermogalvanic refrigeration was led by Senior author Jiangjiang Duan from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology. The study was unique in that it focused on a new system design rather than simple tweaks or component upgrades. Now, the team seeks to find industrial partners to further their research and bring the technology to the public.
Companies Leading in Refrigeration
The market has many participants that rely on refrigeration as part of their business model. From compressor manufacturers to your local restaurant, there are many ways this tech could impact daily life. Here’s one company that is properly aligned to maximize these developments and see raised returns.
Standex International Corporation (SXI +2.48%) entered the market in 1955, intending to drive innovation across several key technologies. The company currently offers a selection of industrial-grade coolers and freezers designed to meet medical standards. The company saw a boost in revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic as its refrigeration systems were ideal for keeping the vaccine stored.
Today, Standex International Corporation remains a leading scientific refrigeration expert and product manufacturer. The company continually Improves its offerings and integrates new technological breakthroughs. Lowering their overhead by utilizing the new compressor method is a sure way for Standex International Corp. to create extra revenue while boosting its current offering.
Standex International Corporation (SXI +2.48%)
Those seeking a reliable stock that has been listed since 1965 should consider checking out Standex International Corporation. The company currently has a market cap of $2.28B. Analysts predict its market positioning to improve as AI and quantum computing systems require more cooling and the company remains a major source for scientific refrigeration solutions.
Refrigeration Study Future
The future of refrigeration looks energy efficient. These systems will combine with other sustainability solutions such as solar and wind power to create a new generation of renewable energy and services. For now, the goal is to research, adapt, and integrate the technology in a manner that is not scalable and stable.
Refrigeration Study Conclusion
When you look at global energy consumption and how it’s set to continue to expand due to new technologies like AI, increased global warming, and other factors, it’s easy to see why this study represents a major milestone in the battle for sustainability. In the future, you could see this technology used in various applications with great success. For now, you have to commend this team for putting in the hard work and hitting this monumental milestone.
Learn about other cool sustainability projects now.
Study Reference
1. Zeng, Y., Yu, B., Chen, M., Zhang, J., Liu, P., Guo, J., Wang, J., Feng, G., Zhou, J., & Duan, J. (2025). Solvation entropy engineering of thermogalvanic electrolytes for efficient electrochemical refrigeration. Joule. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2025.101822