Refrigeration sector monitoring

Unprecedented images from the centre of our galaxy

The James Webb Space Telescope shows images of the centre of the Milky Way, thanks to its state-of-the-art infrared detectors, which need to be cryogenically cooled to operate...

• Publication date : 2024/01/05
• Subjects: Technology

Out of the ordinary: tasting robot

A state-of-the-art tasting robot may transform quality and safety checks. Papero, a 60-com robot developed by NEC, is fitted with infrared spectroscopic technology and a processor and software. It can identify foods, list their ingredients and...

• Publication date : 2006/11/15

Cryogenics: A new cryocooler

A new cryocooler has been demonstrated at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) that combines small-size, rapid cooling, low temperatures and high efficiency. It is a "pulse tube" design that uses oscillating helium gas to...

• Publication date : 2007/05/04

Briefs: Morning dew: a source of drinking water

Researchers at Grenoble CEA, in France, have designed, thanks to a new material, a collector that can collect and condense dew, providing a precious additional source of water, and furthermore, of drinking water. The device is based on the...

• Publication date : 2006/07/26

Ice Gurus

Ice tailoring appears to be the new Olympic challenge. Ice must be tailored to each athlete's needs, e.g. long-track speed skaters prefer a surface as low as -7 to -8°C, whilst figure skaters need to dig their skates into the ice in order to pull...

• Publication date : 2006/05/05

Radiative Cooling in the Sub-Saharan Desert

A new way of lowering temperatures without using electricity has recently been developed. Iterrae, a French company, has discovered a way of using radiative cooling, a phenomenon that takes place at night, when the Earth is cooled by the 0 K...

• Publication date : 2007/08/05

Optical refrigeration

A team in New Mexico University has created the first-ever optical cryocooler that could be applied to airborne and spaceborne sensors. It uses optical refrigeration which could enable miniaturization, an alternative to bulky mechanical...

• Publication date : 2010/05/27

Cryogenic applications: Cooling largest outer-space telescope

In his presentation on cryogenics applications at the IIR-AFF centenary conference in Paris (see Focus), Philippe Lebrun, President of the IIR's Section A, mentioned cryogenic detectors of cosmic signals and cited Herschel probe as an example. The...

• Publication date : 2008/08/12

Ultracold polar molecules

Scientists at JILA, a joint institute of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU-Boulder), have applied their expertise in ultracold atoms and lasers to produce the first high-density...

• Publication date : 2008/10/22

Cool like a butterfly wing

New study demonstrates that butterfly wings contain a network of living cells with specific thermodynamic and thermoregulatory properties. Butterfly wings cool down as a result of low solar absorption combined with efficient radiative heat...

• Publication date : 2020/02/28

Cryogenic testing on the successor of Hubble Telescope

NASA engineers completed final cryogenic testing on James Webb Space Telescope a few months ago.

• Publication date : 2018/05/23

Reflecting material to reduce heat loads

Engineers at Stanford University reported that they have invented a mirror-like material capable, not only of reflecting 97% of sunlight thus reducing incoming heat, but also radiating heat outside of the buildings.

• Publication date : 2015/04/10

Personal thermal comfort thanks to a dual-mode textile

Scientists at Stanford University, California (US) have demonstrated a dual-mode textile that can perform both passive radiative heating and cooling using the same piece of textile.

• Publication date : 2018/05/22

Passive radiative cooling: promising results for a polymer film

A new material using radiative cooling was tested by a team of researcher at Boulder, Colorado. The results show that is could become a viable solution for supplemental cooling for buildings.

• Publication date : 2018/11/06
• Subjects: Environment

Leak detection thanks to thermal imaging cameras

Thermal imaging cameras can be specially designed for the detection of refrigerant gases.

• Publication date : 2014/04/14

New air conditioner system features “3D” camera

Japanese manufacturer Hitachi recently unveiled nine models of residential air conditioners with an unusual feature. The Stainless Clean Shirokuma-kun X series units features the company's "Living Camera 3D" technology.

• Publication date : 2015/05/05

New NIST screening method for refrigerants

Researchers from the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) developed a computational method to identify candidate low-GWP refrigerant fluids. The method identified 1234 promising low-GWP chemicals among 56 203 considered.

• Publication date : 2012/11/20

US researchers create film with cool benefits.

US researchers have developed a metamaterial they say could be used to help cool buildings without the use of energy or water.

• Publication date : 2017/02/22
• Subjects: Environment

Gas leak detection technologies

Bacharach, a manufacturer of refrigerant and gas leak detectors, recently extended its gas detectors by two HFOs. The company also produces leak detectors for CO2 systems.

• Publication date : 2018/01/16

A laser beam which cools liquids

The first laser refrigeration process was demonstrated in vacuum conditions in 1995. Twenty years later, a team from University of Washington explains in a study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, how a laser can...

• Publication date : 2016/05/17

New radiative cooling technology promises breakthrough for vertical surfaces

A new radiative cooling material designed for vertical surfaces demonstrates cooling 2.5°C below ambient, offering solutions for urban heat. 

• Publication date : 2024/12/13

Behold the 9-day fresh strawberry: new approach to slowing rot doubles berry shelf life

A study has demonstrated that low irradiance ultra-violet (UV) light directed at strawberries over long exposure periods at low temperature and very high humidity (typical home refrigerator conditions) delays spoilage.

• Publication date : 2013/09/04

Cooling without electricity

The US Stanford University is currently testing an innovative cooling technology using radiative sky cooling.

• Publication date : 2018/01/24

Wondrwall introduces AI-controlled propane heat pump

Wondrwall launches a propane air-source heat pump with AI-powered energy management for cost and carbon savings.

• Publication date : 2024/11/20

Squid skin inspires research on next-generation space blanket

Next-generation space blankets could be made of a thermoregulatory material inspired by the functioning of squid skin, which changes color.

• Publication date : 2019/05/29