The European CharCool project: what it is and why it could revolutionise the cooling industry
The European CharCool project is coordinated by the University of Padova and financed via funding of 38 million euros from the European Innovation Council. It represents a significant breakthrough in the field of sustainable cooling.
In simple terms, it aims to develop a new generation of refrigeration systems powered by heat energy, using thermochemical materials, all derived from organic sources.
Its main objective is to combine the use of clean energy with sustainable solutions in order to create efficient and flexible cooling systems with a minimal environmental impact.
Purpose and vision of the project
The key concept of the CharCool project is to rethink clean cooling by introducing a revolutionary class of refrigerants which use waste heat or renewable energy sources, such as solar heat energy or surplus wind energy.
This approach promises not only to be more ecological, but also more efficient compared to traditional compression cooling systems which, as well as relying mainly on electrical energy, also employ environmentally hazardous chemical refrigerants.
The European CharCool project involves the creation of a thermal energy powered refrigeration system, which uses a new thermochemical material. That substance is based on biochar: a project originally used in agriculture treated with ecological inorganic salts, which are readily available.
It is known for:
- Its excellent energy storage properties;
- and its ability to absorb and release heat energy.
This is a significant step forward as it permits the creation of modular systems for thermochemical energy storage, which, in turn, enable seasonal accumulation of that energy, thereby improving long-term resource management.
How the European CharCool project works
Thanks to its special biochar properties, the CharCool system is distinguished by its capacity to store thermal energy for longer periods and its flexibility in allowing the demand for cooling to be independent from the electricity network.
This is made possible via the adoption of a heat activated refrigerator, which uses water for refrigeration and works within a temperature range of between 60°C and 150°C.
This choice enables waste heat produced by various industrial processes or by surplus renewable energy sources to be used, without the need to rely on the electricity network.
At the heart of the system is an interchangeable and rechargeable modular thermopile , made of biochar impregnated with inorganic salts. This thermopile acts as a heat energy accumulator, storing heat when there is a surplus of it and subsequently releasing it when cooling is required.
One of this system’s innovative features is its ability to bridge the spatial and temporal distance between the heat source and the end user’s cooling requirements. In other words, the system can store energy in one place and enable it to be used later in another, considerably increasing the system’s flexibility.
As far as energy efficiency is concerned, the European CharCool project promises to reduce both the volume and cost of traditional cooling and absorption systems, by 40% and 50% respectively.
These reductions make the system particularly attractive for use in a huge range of applications, including industrial, commercial and residential environments, where the need for high performance cooling systems continues to increase.
From a market perspective, this approach also has the potential to revolutionise the cooling sector, by offering an efficient, sustainable and scalable solution. These advantages could be even more significant in contexts where demand for green cooling systems is high, such as in tropical regions or densely populated urban areas.
Translated by Joanne Beckwith
