What is it about?
In an eco-friendly cooling system, a hydrophobic membrane desorber separates water vapor from a lithium bromide solution without needing high heat, making it ideal for low-energy sources like solar power. By testing factors like solution and cooling water temperatures, researchers found that warmer solutions and cooler water boost the separation rate. Scaling up with a solar system in a sunny part of Mexico, nine solar panels (37.4 m²) could produce 16.8 kg of refrigerant daily, powering a cooling system with nearly 80% solar energy, offering a practical, green way to stay cool.
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Why is it important?
This research is a big deal because it’s paving the way for cooling systems that are kinder to the planet and our wallets. Think about how much we rely on air conditioning or refrigeration to keep our homes comfy, food fresh, or medicines safe—those systems usually guzzle electricity from fossil fuels, which isn’t great for the environment or energy bills. This new approach, using a special membrane to pull refrigerant from a liquid mix, works with gentler energy sources like sunlight, geothermal heat, or even leftover heat from other processes. The study shows that in a sunny place like Mexico, just a few solar panels (about 37.4 square meters) can produce enough refrigerant (16.8 kg a day) to power a cooling system that’s nearly 80% solar-powered. That means less pollution, lower energy costs, and a practical way to bring eco-friendly cooling to more people, especially in sunny regions, helping us stay cool while keeping the planet a bit cooler too.
Perspectives
Imagine a future where keeping your home cool or your groceries fresh doesn’t mean spiking your energy bill or harming the planet. This research on membrane desorber technology opens the door to making that a reality by powering cooling systems with sustainable sources like sunlight. In places with lots of sun, like Mexico, this could mean affordable, eco-friendly air conditioning for homes, schools, or small businesses, especially in off-grid or underserved areas. It’s not just about comfort—hospitals could keep medicines cold, and farmers could preserve crops without relying on fossil fuels. By harnessing low-energy sources like solar or waste heat, this technology could make cooling systems more accessible, cut down on greenhouse gas emissions, and help communities stay comfortable and resilient, all while being kinder to the Earth.
Professor Rosenberg J Romero
Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Feasibility Analysis of a Membrane Desorber Powered by Thermal Solar Energy for Absorption Cooling Systems, Applied Sciences, February 2020, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/app10031110.
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