Are the examples of refrigeration devices that contain no moving parts, but are able to cool things very efficiently?
What I had in mind is some kind of simple electrical device or materials that work like a thermocouple in reverse.
You apply a charge, and instead of heating up, it cools down.
Maybe a semiconductor device? Maybe some special materials?
Some creating ideas, links, thoughts are welcome.
Thanx!
2006-07-13 17:19:23 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
Zeer pot - not exactly what you're looking for, but an interesting version of a thermal bottle used in Africa
2006-07-13 17:35:29 · answer #1 · answered by hec 5 · 5⤊ 1⤋
You're exactly right. A thermocouple in reverse. Put in current and a temperature difference develops between the two dis-similiar metals.
However, the efficiency is around 10-20% versus 4 to 10 times (yes, greater than 100%!, in terms of evergy moved versus energy consumed) for freons being compressed and expanded.
So it is used for applications where simplicity and low capital costs are important and energy consumption is not. The aformentioned six-pack automotive coolers and some applications in satellites and astronomy among others. You'd never cool a house with it, electricity is far too valuable for that.
Maybe some exotic new materials or a high-temp superconductor or something might increase the efficiency. No thermodynamic reason why not, but no one has made a very efficient one yet. Because it they had, your home fridge wouldn't hum when it runs!
2006-07-14 01:23:19 · answer #2 · answered by David in Kenai 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a device that suppossedly fits what you are looking for being developed by a company called Cool Chips. http://www.coolchips.gi/ There website has some information saying they can get upto 55% efficiency, but In the years I've been watching them I really haven't seen much come out. They have suppossedly purchased a fab plant but again I haven't seen any working demonstrations of their product. So while they have a really good idea, don't know what has come of it.
If what they say is true there product could have uses from cooling your home to chilling your CPU, obviously a refrigerator would work just the same. Could probably build it right into the back wall so you would gain a fair amount of storage in the frig. According to their site they transfer heat across a very small(nm) air gap using electrons.
Obviously as pointed out by others their is a Peltier cooler, but they are horribly inefficient and are fairly expensive for what you get.
Hope this helps answer your question.
2006-07-14 00:51:13 · answer #3 · answered by ebrusky 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are possible, and you can buy one. They aren't very efficient, but you can get one that runs off a car battery that will keep a six-pack cold. They use something called the Peltier effect, in which an electric current flow causes a temperature difference. Because of their inefficiency, you won't see one in a house.
2006-07-14 00:26:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answers about Peltier junctions are correct. Another fridge that has no moving parts uses a very intense sound wave bouncing around inside a cavity. Sorry I can't remember the details so you'd better google it.
2006-07-14 04:15:31 · answer #5 · answered by zee_prime 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are thermo-electric coolers (search TEC) but efficiency is the problem.
People are working with micro-machines (the oh so trendy nano-technology) to build all sorts of tiny devices that can do routine tasks. Localized refrigeration of electronics is one category being studied.
2006-07-14 00:26:43 · answer #6 · answered by Steve D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a layer of cloth around the "fridge" and a tank of water to keep it moist, so that evaporation keeps it cool.
Electricity is energy, and pumping just pumping it through any solid-state system would only warm it up.
2006-07-14 00:23:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋