August 21st, 2006
The US Army together with engineers from the University of Florida has built a successful prototype power-refrigeration unit that produces power, water, and refrigeration. Primarily designed for battle field conditions where power, water, and refrigeration are all needed, the device simplifies field operation by simply sending out "fuel" instead of water, which costs as much per gallon as fuel.
This device will replace generators for producing electricity, electricity-using refrigerators for cooling, and large water tankers to hold water. Replacing these three would be a small system that ties a gas turbine power plant to a heat-operated refrigeration system. The refrigeration will produce cool air that ties in with the turbine making them more efficient (studies showed that gas turbines lose efficiency when operated in warm climates) and potable water while the gas turbine is flexible to run on conventional fossil fuels, hydrogen, or biofuels if available.
Although the application of this system is earmarked initially for army operations, its uses for off-grid areas are justifiable and foreseeable. Africa for example, will benefit from portable biofuel-based power-water-refrigeration units. Read the full article here.