UCLA researchers have developed a new type of air conditioner that is not only energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, but can also fit in your pocket!
When we think of air conditioners, the image that comes to mind is a big, bulky machine mounted on a wall that cools an entire room. These machines typically use substances that can harm the environment when they break down or are not disposed of properly. This new research could potentially change all that.
How does it work?
These devices are called thermoelectric coolers, and they don't work the same way as traditional ACs. They require expensive ceramic materials and aren't the most efficient at cooling entire rooms like a traditional air conditioner. The reason for this is the way they work.
Researchers have said that these devices use an electric field to remove unwanted heat through specially designed materials. Polymers with special properties are used and placed between two points – a heat source and a heat sink that absorbs the heat.
When the polymer comes into contact with the heat source, it will absorb the heat. At this point, the electric field is inactive. When the polymer comes into contact with the cooler, the electric field is active. This field will force the polymer molecules to arrange themselves in a specific order that will push the heat outward.
Cheaper than traditional ACs
Aside from energy efficiency, there's another reason why this technology could end up being cheaper than the AC we use today. Traditional ACs are used to cool an entire room. With this technology, companies could instead cool individual locations, thus saving on electricity bills.
