Appliance Design - April 2008 - (Page 27)

COOLING TECHNOLOGIES flash cycle, and cascade cycles. Users have the ability to change and add system components on the fly, he says. In addition to looking at overall systems and how the components work together, the software also includes libraries of components from a variety of suppliers. Components include accumulators, suction line heat exchanger, two stage compressors, intercoolers, fans, tubes and secondary loops. The VapCyc simulation software was one of the tools used to test another novel technology that is being developed at the CEEE. Yunho Hwang, Research Associate Professor at the University of Maryland, is leading a research project on applying thermoelectric cooling devices to heat exchangers. Thermoelectric cooling is based on the Peltier effect, which involves the passing of current through two dissimilar electrical conductors and causes heat to be either emitted or absorbed at the material’s junction. According to Hwang, the underlying physics is that the electrons in the metal or semiconductor can carry not only electricity, but also energy. By passing an electric current through two dissimilar metals or semiconductors (n-type and p-type) that are connected to each other at two junctions, the current drives a transfer of heat from one junction to the other – in essence a current-driven heat exchanger. As the voltage is increased, the temperature lift and the capacity of a thermoelectric cooler also increase. Research into the technology is vast and includes using thermocooling as a standalone technology. Another option, however, is to integrate a thermoelectric unit into a heat exchanger. The TE elements can be inserted between the tube and the fins of a typical air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger or coil. In this case, the cold side is to the tube and the hot side is to the fin, which helps to pump heat from the tube to the fin. “In this Tubing manufactured by Luvata for the heat way, we can create large temperature differ- exchanger that will be used on Coca-Cola’s CO2 vending machines. ence,” Hwang says. While the TE elements can be used to enhance a traditional round tube heat exchanger, the better the contact between the TE element and the tubes makes for better Tip the scale on performance easy: Defrost timer, defrost terminator, thermostat, thermometer and more in ONE tiny package! CAREL has been providing controls to the industry for over 30 years and is a leader in refrigeration technology. Our staff can assist you in choosing the right product for your application and provide support to get you up and running quickly. worldwide partner of leading manufacturers in the HVAC/R sector INTEGRATED CONTROL SOLUTIONS & ENERGY SAVING CAREL USA 385 S. Oak Street - Manheim, PA 17545 - Phone 717.664.0500 - Fax 717.664.0449 - email: sales@carelusa.com www.carelusa.com For more Information Enter 109 AD04084CArel.indd 1 www.applianceDESIGN.com applianceDESIGN 3/7/08 2008 AM April 9:02:58 27 http://www.carelusa.com http://www.carelusa.com http://www.appliancedesign.com

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Appliance Design - April 2008 Contents Editorial Shipments/Forecasts News Watch A Variant of Thermoacoustic Refrigeration Known as Acoustic-Stirling is Expanding Its Range Outside Cryocooling Into More Conventional Applications Such As Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Free-Piston, Stirling Coolers Are Now Showing Up in Mainstream Applications As Costs Come Down and Heat Transport Solutions Are Devised Heat Exchanger Innovations Are Helping To Improve the Overall Efficiency of Vapor Compression Systems Environmental Concerns Have Once Again Ignited a Debate Over Refrigerants A New Glass Ceramic Material for Induction Cooktops Can Be Decorated In a Variety of Glimmering Metallic, 3-D Looks That Can Employ a Number of Shades, Patterns, Styles, Colors, Intensities, and Textures Colorful, Reflective Coatings for Glass Create a Variety of Design Options To Help Designers Establish a Unique Look for Their Products Appliance Designers Faced With Different Motor and Drive Options Need To Understand the Differences and Tradeoffs Before Choosing A New MEMS Valve Offers a Number of Advantages Over Solenoids In Certain Applications, Including the Opportunity To Cut Energy Use The AHR Expo Set Attendance Records and Showcased Thousands of Innovative New Products Classifieds Design Marts Advertiser’s Index Association Report: CEA

Appliance Design - April 2008

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