我国制冷技术新突破

Core Insights - The research team from the Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has discovered a new phenomenon called the "dissolution pressure card effect," which could provide low-carbon and efficient cooling solutions for high-energy data centers [1][5] - The cooling systems in data centers account for nearly 40% of their total electricity consumption, and traditional cooling methods face efficiency bottlenecks when dealing with high power dissipation [1][5] Group 1: Discovery and Mechanism - The "dissolution pressure card effect" allows a solution of ammonium thiocyanate (NH₄SCN) to exhibit significant thermal effects under pressure changes, where heating occurs during the pressurization and rapid cooling happens upon depressurization, achieving a temperature drop of nearly 30°C within 20 seconds at room temperature [1][2] - This effect combines the refrigerant and heat transfer medium, utilizing the fluidity of the solution for efficient heat transfer while providing substantial cooling through the dissolution and crystallization process, overcoming the traditional "low-carbon, high cooling capacity, high heat transfer" dilemma [1][2] Group 2: Engineering Application - The research team has designed a four-step cycle system based on the "dissolution pressure card effect," which includes pressurization and heating, heat dissipation to the environment, depressurization and cooling, and cold transport, achieving a heat absorption of 67 joules per gram of solution with a theoretical efficiency of 77% [4] - This innovative method offers a promising approach for the next generation of cooling technologies in data centers, potentially enabling low-carbon operations for computational infrastructure [5]