Cooling the Future
Cooling our homes and buildings is essential, especially in hot and humid places. However, traditional air conditioners use a lot of energy and contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. At the University of Guelph's Advanced Energy Conversion & Control Lab, Drs. Shohel Mahmud and Syeda Humaira Tasnim, along with their PhD student Mehran Bozorgi, are pushing the boundaries of sustainable cooling technology. Their research focuses on developing an energy-efficient, eco-friendly cooling system designed to keep indoor spaces comfortable without harming the environment.
A New Approach to Cooling
The research team at U of G is tackling this issue by creating a new kind of cooling system that uses solar power and advanced components to provide a comfortable indoor climate while using much less energy. The innovative cooling system combines two main technologies: a Desiccant Wheel and a Thermoelectric Cooler. Think of the desiccant wheel as a super sponge; it soaks up the moisture from the air as it passes through, leaving the space feeling more comfortable, which is perfect for those hot, sticky summer days. The thermoelectric cooler uses electrical energy to transfer heat between its two sides, working efficiently without moving parts or harmful refrigerants. This allows it to quietly and precisely control air temperature, offering a more environmentally friendly cooling solution.
What makes this system special is that it uses solar energy to power both components, reducing its dependence on electricity. The team also added a smart heat recovery feature, which reuses heat generated by the cooling process, to boost the system's efficiency even further.
In their study, researchers tested the cooling system in simulated home environments in Toronto and Vancouver, achieving remarkable results. The system maintained a comfortable indoor climate while reducing energy consumption by 68% compared to conventional systems. Notably, it also showed a significant improvement in its Coefficient of Performance (COP), indicating enhanced energy efficiency. This innovative approach not only promises to lower energy bills for homeowners but also offers an environmentally friendly solution in the face of rising climate concerns.
“We wanted to develop a solution that doesn’t just cool buildings but does so in a way that’s kind to our environment,” said Mahmud. “Our system shows that it’s possible to stay comfortable indoors without compromising on sustainability.”
This story was written by Mehran Bozorgi as part of the Science Communicators: Research @ CEPS initiative. Mehran is a PhD candidate in the School of Engineering under Drs. Syeda Humaira Tasnim and Shohel Mahmud. His research focus is on the development of sustainable cooling systems to achieve thermal comfort conditions in buildings in different climate conditions.
References: M. Bozorgi, S. H. Tasnim, and S. Mahmud, “Experimental and numerical study on the integration of solar-driven desiccant and thermoelectric Systems for Sustainable Thermal Comfort,” Appl. Energy, vol. 376, no. PA, p. 124253, Dec. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.124253.