High-Efficiency Air Conditioner
Technology Description:
American Superconductor (AMSC) is developing a freezer that does not rely on harmful refrigerants and is more energy efficient than conventional systems. Many freezers are based on vapor compression, in which a liquid refrigerant circulates within the freezer, absorbs heat, and then pumps it out into the external environment. Unfortunately, these systems can be expensive and inefficient. ITC's freezer uses helium gas as its refrigerant, representing a safe, affordable, and environmentally friendly approach to cooling. ITC's improvements to the Stirling cycle system could enable the cost-effective mass production of high-efficiency freezers without the use of polluting refrigerants. ITC received a separate award of up to $1,766,702 from the Department of the Navy to help decrease military fuel use.
Potential Impact:
If successful, AMSC would provide Stirling cycle based freezers to the market, increasing the supply of environmental friendly, energy efficient cooling technologies.
Security:
Increased energy efficiency would decrease U.S. energy demand and reduce reliance on fossil fuels—strengthening U.S. energy security.
Environment:
Refrigerants with polluting emissions could account for up to 10%-20% of global warming by year 2050. ITC's technology could eliminate the use of these refrigerants from commercial refrigeration systems.
Economy:
Widespread adoption of this technology could reduce energy consumption in commercial refrigeration systems—providing commercial entities with cost savings on energy bills, which ultimately can be passed onto the consumers.
Contact
ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Marina Sofos
Project Contact:
Greg Buchholz
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
greg.buchholz@amsc.com
Partners
Heatcraft Worldwide Refridgeration
Related Projects
Release Date:
03/02/2010