Magnetic Refrigeration - the New Eco-friendly Way to Keep Things Cool

Here's an article on the benefits of magnetic refrigeration, which is set to become a new, more eco-friendly way to run your air cooling system and your kitchen fridge.

Article thanks to Iceboys.co.uk

Needing to re-gas your portable air conditioner could be a thing of the past if magnetic cooling takes off in the UK by 2012.

A company called Camfridge has partnered with Whirlpool to develop a commercial prototype of a magnetic refrigeration system for air conditioners and fridges. The partnership is being funded by the Carbon Fund and the companies involved have set a goal to display the prototype at the London Olympic Games in 2012.

How it works

Magnetic refrigeration works by heating up compounds in the presence of a magnetic field and reducing the compounds’ temperature when the magnetic field is removed. Conversely, air conditioning and refrigeration systems that are currently on the market use gas comprehension to manipulate temperature.

The research done so far on this type of refrigeration has found that it can be 50% more energy efficient than conventional techniques. Furthermore, it doesn’t rely on environmentally harmful gas in order to offer effective cooling systems.

A little history...

The idea is by no means a new one. The fundamental principles behind magnetic refrigerator devices was laid down in 1926 by Dutch physicist, Peter Debye, and the first system using the principle of manipulating temperature magnetically was developed in 1933. However, at the time the technology was unrefined and expensive to produce.

Fortunately, advances in other technologies and availability of materials had made the new venture possible. Although the systems are very much in the experimental stage, with major hitches being the cost of materials to produce the magnetic system, the researchers remain positive.

Robert Trezona, the head of research at the Carbon Trust, said that the refrigeration products being developed by Camfridge and Whirlpool will be capable of replacing all conventional refrigeration systems including fridges and air conditioners in the near future.

President of Whirlpool Europe, Bracken Darrell told the public:

“…We are looking forward to offering millions of consumers worldwide this major, unprecedented revolution in their own kitchen.”

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