Waste Heat Powers New Cooling System with Record Efficiency

A research team, led by Dr. Young Kim at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), has developed an advanced chemical adsorption heat pump system capable of utilizing low-temperature waste heat, approximately 40°C (104°F), a significant improvement over conventional systems that typically require heat sources above 70°C (158°F).

This next-generation system, developed in collaboration with Chung-Ang University professors Minseong Kim and Dongkyu Kim, uses waste heat as its primary energy source, unlike traditional air conditioning units that rely on electricity to compress refrigerants. The system incorporates an electrochemical compressor, developed by Chung-Ang University, which operates without mechanical moving parts, resulting in reduced energy consumption and virtually no noise or vibration.

The core component, the adsorption bed, was redesigned by KIMM, achieving a specific cooling power (SCP) of 346.5 W/kg. This performance is more than double that of comparable international technologies, marking a world-leading advancement in adsorption-bed efficiency. A 10 kW-class prototype of the chemical adsorption heat pump was manufactured by Samjung Tech Co., Ltd.

Expected applications for this technology include heating and cooling systems for data centers, factories, and commercial buildings. By repurposing discarded waste heat, the system offers substantial energy savings and utilizes ammonia, a natural refrigerant, aligning with international regulations and providing an environmentally friendly solution. The team is currently conducting demonstration tests with the prototype and plans further research for field deployment.