KIT and University of Tsukuba researchers develop heat-to-cold system

Researchers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany and the University of Tsukuba in Japan have developed a system capable of converting waste heat into cooling without consuming electricity. The study, published in the journal Nature Energy, presents a method to utilize thermal energy from sources such as car engines, computer processors, or solar radiation to provide refrigeration.

The technology utilizes two ultra-thin sheets made of a nickel-titanium shape-memory alloy. When heated, these sheets contract, creating mechanical movement that is transferred to a second sheet, which cools as it releases tension. This mechanism effectively uses existing heat to drive a cooling effect, potentially addressing the high energy demands of global climate control and refrigeration systems.