ASHRAE Journal - August 2019 - 6

Researchers mapped places that most
effectively reject heat from the ground.

Researchers
Create Passive
Cooling Maps

SAN DIEGO-Researchers at the
University of California, San
Diego have created detailed
radiative cooling resource
maps to help determine
the best climates for largescale deployment of passive
cooling technologies. The
researchers said the American Southwest shows great
potential, but areas where
relative humidity depletes
the ability to use this cold
reservoir resource show less
potential.

Eliminating
Mechanical
Pumps

EPFL

The technique devised by the research
team considerably simplifies the first step
in developing turbochargers.

AI Makes Heat
Pumps More
Efficient
LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND-A
research team at EPFL's
Laboratory for Applied Mechanical Design has developed a technique to make
conventional heat pumps
more efficient and better
for the environment. While
engineers can use microturbocompressors in the place
6

ASHRAE JOURNAL

of traditional compression
systems to minimize heat
pump power requirements,
problems emerge due to the
very small size of the microturbocompressor components. To solve these design
problems, researchers used a
machine-learning method to
develop simple equations for
calculating the ideal dimensions of a turbocompressor
for a specified heat pump.

RICHLAND, WASH.-Researchers
at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have introduced an alternative method
using a molecular-based
pump, which could use 25%
less energy than a mechanical pump or compressor.
Molecular pumping is free
of moving mechanical parts,
and if successful, the concept
could render mechanical
compressors used today in
air-conditioning and heat
pumps obsolete. The researchers found transporting
fluid by switching a porous
capacitor on and off like a
light switch is more energy
efficient.

N.Y.C. Zoning
To Help FloodProof Buildings
NEW YORK CITY-New York City
has released zoning recommendations to help floodproof buildings. The plan

ashrae.org

A U G U S T 2 0 19

would expand the area where
flood-resilient zoning provisions apply and give more
flexibility to elevate mechanical, electrical and plumbing
equipment to heights above
flood-risk areas, including on
roofs or in separate structures.

have an absolute theoretical maximum efficiency of
about 29.1% conversion of
solar energy, and the new
approach could add several
percentage points to that
maximum output.

Chicago
Overhauls
Building Code

HydrogenPowered Boiler
In Operation

CHICAGO-Chicago is overhauling its building code in its
first update since 1949. The
update will be in line with
national standards and
allows for a wider range of
building materials allowed,
seismic requirements, a
streamlined permitting process and more. The overhaul
will be gradually phased in
with the first phase expected to be implemented
this fall.

APELDOORN, THE NETHERLANDS-A
Dutch company, BDR Thermea Group, has developed
a hydrogen-powered boiler
that emits virtually no carbon
dioxide. The boiler burns
pure hydrogen produced by
wind or solar energy. For the
first time outside of a laboratory, this setup will be used to
fuel a condensing boiler for
the central heating system in
a residential building.

MIT RESEARCHERS

CREDIT: CARLOS COIMBRA

INDUSTRY NEWS

Producing two electrons from a single
photon of light is called "singlet fission."

Increasing Solar
Cell Output

CAMBRIDGE, MASS.-MIT researchers have demonstrated a method for getting
high-energy photons
striking silicon to kick out
two electrons instead of
one, which could break
through the theoretical
solar-cell efficiency limit.
Conventional silicon cells

Chip Converts
Wasted Heat to
Usable Energy
SALT LAKE CITY-About two-thirds
of energy annually consumed
in the U.S. is wasted as heat.
Researchers have discovered
how to produce more electricity from heat by creating
a silicon chip that could convert more thermal radiation
into electricity. The chips
could increase the efficiency
of solar panels by increasing the amount of electricity
from the sun's heat, or power
a car's electrical systems by
taking the heat from the
engine.
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ASHRAE Journal - August 2019

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