ShareSolar refrigeration solution designed to support life on the moon
In 2012, the prestigious NASA Commercial Innovation of the Year was bestowed on a solar refrigeration solution designed to support life on the moon, but has huge application on Earth. With approximately 2 billion of Earth’s inhabitants without electricity, the technology could significantly impact the lives of those in remote areas.
In 2012, the prestigious NASA Commercial Innovation of the Year was bestowed on a solar refrigeration solution designed to support life on the moon, but has huge application on Earth. With approximately 2 billion of Earth’s inhabitants without electricity, the technology could significantly impact the lives of those in remote areas.
The NASA Advanced Thermal Team acknowledged the need for a solar refrigerator that could operate in conjunction with simple solar lighting systems already in place on Earth. They modified the lunar “solar photovoltaic heat pump” device to produce a refrigerator with a vapour-compression, battery-free cooling system that converts electricity from solar photovoltaic panels into thermal energy that is stored internally using low-cost phase-change materials. Now licensed to SunDanzer Refrigeration Inc., the system eliminates reliance on an electric grid, requires no batteries, and stores thermal energy for efficient use when sunlight is absent. The direct-drive solar refrigerator is a chest-type cabinet with a 105-litre internal volume, a lockable top-opening door, a corrosion-resistant coated steel exterior, and a low-frost system a low-frost system.
Potential uses include remote automated weather stations, forest stations, cabins, vacation houses, eco-friendly resorts, farms, street vendor carts, remote medical centres, transport vehicles and underdeveloped areas.
SunDanzer has developed and is marketing one of the first battery-free solar-powered refrigerators suitable for safely storing vaccines, and this unit has received World Health Organization precertification. The NASA battery-free solar technology could be used to cool milk, produce or other consumer products in under-developed regions around the world, thus creating economic opportunities and improving lives on Earth.
The NASA Advanced Thermal Team acknowledged the need for a solar refrigerator that could operate in conjunction with simple solar lighting systems already in place on Earth. They modified the lunar “solar photovoltaic heat pump” device to produce a refrigerator with a vapour-compression, battery-free cooling system that converts electricity from solar photovoltaic panels into thermal energy that is stored internally using low-cost phase-change materials. Now licensed to SunDanzer Refrigeration Inc., the system eliminates reliance on an electric grid, requires no batteries, and stores thermal energy for efficient use when sunlight is absent. The direct-drive solar refrigerator is a chest-type cabinet with a 105-litre internal volume, a lockable top-opening door, a corrosion-resistant coated steel exterior, and a low-frost system a low-frost system.
Potential uses include remote automated weather stations, forest stations, cabins, vacation houses, eco-friendly resorts, farms, street vendor carts, remote medical centres, transport vehicles and underdeveloped areas.
SunDanzer has developed and is marketing one of the first battery-free solar-powered refrigerators suitable for safely storing vaccines, and this unit has received World Health Organization precertification. The NASA battery-free solar technology could be used to cool milk, produce or other consumer products in under-developed regions around the world, thus creating economic opportunities and improving lives on Earth.