Review of alternative cooling technologies

This paper provides an update on alternative cooling technologies in the context of a report by Fischer et al. [2], which contains an extensive assessment of “not-in-kind” technologies including their state-of-the-art, development issues, and potentials to replace vapor compression equipment. After nearly 20 years, it is now of interest to update the status of alternative technologies considering regulatory actions aimed at refrigerants with high global warming potential. Several technologies are considered with sorption cooling, desiccant cooling, magnetic cooling, thermoacoustic cooling, thermoelectric cooling, and transcritical CO2 being discussed in some detail. For each technology we present its physical principle, a brief summary of the findings of Fischer et al., the technological advancements since their study leading to the current state-of-the-art, and our assessment as to the potential of each technology to enter the market as a supplement to or replacement of vapor compression equipment in the next 20 year period.