Global demand for refrigeration is growing rapidly and is expected to triple by 2050, with a consequent increase in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Today’s refrigeration and air conditioning (HVAC-R) systems rely mostly on vapor compression cycles using fluorinated refrigerants with high global warming potential, responsible for approximately 3% of global emissions. At the same time, end-of-life tyres continue to be an underused waste, missing out on their potential as a secondary raw material. This context raises the need to develop more sustainable refrigeration systems that eliminate the use of harmful gases and, at the same time, contribute to the circular economy through the recovery of waste.
EcoRubCool is a technology developed at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) based on elastocaloric materials made from natural rubber and recycled rubber from end-of-life tires. The material has a reversible change in temperature when subjected to mechanical deformation cycles, allowing cold or heat to be generated without the need for gaseous refrigerants. To improve thermal efficiency, recycled fillers, such as carbon black, are incorporated to facilitate the transfer of heat to an external fluid, usually water. The technology has been validated at laboratory and prototype level, showing temperature variations in the order of ±13 °C, and is aimed at compact and newly designed refrigeration systems.
Image 2: Temperature field in NR-GTR specimen (bottom) during heating (lefft) and cooling (right).
Images width 2mm
It has been validated on a laboratory scale and they have a demonstrator-type prototype that allows small quantities of this elastocaloric material to be obtained. They have submitted a European patent proposal and it is pending grant.
Benefits:
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions: solid alternative to HFC-based systems.
- Circular economy: valorisation of end-of-life tires into advanced technological products.
- Adaptable processes: easy integration into industrial rubber lines.
- Versatile applications: from consumer electronics to compact HVAC.
The development team is looking to know the most suitable application sector for each of the foams developed, as well as to establish strategic collaborations that will allow this technology to be brought to market in the near future. The conditions and form of collaboration can be openly discussed if the technology presented is of interest.
Institution: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
TRL: 4-5
Protection Status: European Patent Application
Contacto: Begoña Iborra / biborra@viromii.com