Spotted: Fluorinated gases (F-gas) are so harmful to the environment that the EU is phasing out their use, aiming to get down to 20 per cent of the 2014 amount by 2030, and banning their use in new devices where “less harmful alternatives are widely available.” German company Magnotherm is one of the companies creating alternatives that provide refrigeration without the environmental toxins.
Taking advantage of the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) – a process in which some materials heat up when magnetised – the Magnotherm team uses surges in magnetic fields to heat and cool products. The process uses no F-gases and produces zero direct carbon dioxide emissions. When materials are placed in thermally insulated chambers and a magnetic force is applied, the materials heat up. Extracting the heat then allows for products to be heated or cooled, as needed.
The company recently introduced its first product available for commercial sale. The Polaris refrigerator is a fully magnetic beverage cooler that holds up to 150 drinks and cools them down to five degrees Celsius. Importantly, the system requires little power for its low-pressure processes, making it almost noise-free. Magnotherm builds bespoke cooling systems that can be set to specific temperatures, making the technology usable in many industries. Efficiency remains steady regardless of the size of the system.
Cooling is so important to the modern food industry that innovators are improving almost every aspect of the cold chain. Springwise has spotted a supercooling system that prevents ice formation as well as solar-powered refrigerated trucks.
Written By: Keely Khoury