According to domestic media reports, Russian engineers managed to create a new generation refrigerator. The main distinguishing feature of the development is that the working medium is not a liquid that turns into a gas, but a magnetic metal. Due to this, the level of energy efficiency increases by 30-40%.
A new type of refrigerator was created by engineers from the National Research Technological University "MISiS", who collaborated with colleagues from Tver State University. The basis of the presented development is a solid-state magnetic system, which in terms of energy efficiency exceeds the gas compressor mechanisms used in conventional refrigerators by 30-40%. When creating a new system, the magnetocaloric effect was used, the essence of which is that when magnetized, a magnetic material changes its temperature. One of the features of the development is that the researchers managed to achieve a cascade effect. Bars of gadolinium, mounted on a special wheel, rotate at high speed, due to which they fall into a magnetic field.
The authors of the project say that the technology they applied has existed for about 20 years, but it was the first time that the cascade principle was successfully implemented. Previously created similar installations cannot be used for strong cooling, since they are only able to maintain a certain temperature.
In the future, the developers intend to continue the development of cascade technology, due to which it is planned to expand the operating temperature range of the refrigerator. It is noteworthy that the size of the laboratory system does not exceed 15 cm. Experts believe that in the future this compact device can be used to create air conditioners for cars, cooling systems for microprocessor devices, etc.
Source: 3dnews.ru